World Football Body Remembers Yekini, Amokachi As FIFA Celebrates Super Eagles World Cup Debut 28years After

World Football Body Remembers Yekini, Amokachi As FIFA Celebrates Super Eagles World Cup Debut 28years After

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:56 PM
  • FIFA has celebrated Nigeria’s superlative World Cup debut in 1994 in the United States, where the Super Eagles reached the round of 16 before being eliminated by Italy
  • Nigeria had caused a major upset in the competition as the Super Eagles defeated favorites Bulgaria in their opening World Cup campaign 3-0.
  • Super Eagles legend, late Rasheed Yekini scored Nigeria’s debut goal at the FIFA World Cup in USA 1994

Football governing body, FIFA has celebrated Nigeria’s exciting World Cup debut at the 1994 tournament in the United States of America.

The Super Eagles had the likes of Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi, Steven Keshi and Finidi George caused a major uproar as Nigeria cruised into the round-of-16 at its first attempt.

Coached by Dutchman Clemens Westerhof, Nigeria played some scintillating football and breezed past their group C opponents that included a 3-0 win against Bulgaria and 2-0 victory over Greece.

World Football Body Remembers Yekini, Amokachi As FIFA Celebrates Super Eagles World Cup Debut 28years After
FIFA, has celebrated Nigeria’s superlative World Cup debut in 1994 in the United States, where they reached the round of 16 before being eliminated by Italy. Photo by Timothy A. Clary
Source: Getty Images

Nigeria would however lose to Argentina 2-1 in their final group game but still qualified to the round-of-16 where they were eventually eliminated by Italy.

According to a report via Punch, FIFA celebrated Nigeria at the World Cup with a video of late striker Rashidi Yekini celebrating the country’s maiden World Cup goal on the website.

“That was like watching the great Brazilian sides,” former England striker of Nigerian descent, John Fashanu, told FIFA, after the Eagles 3-0 win over Bulgaria at the Foxboro Stadium, Atlanta.
“The former England striker may have been biased given his Nigerian descendancy, but that 90-minute exhibition at the Cotton Bowl nonetheless wowed the world.”

Super Eagles World Cup stats

The Super Eagles have scored 19 times at the World Cup since making its debut at the 1994 tournament in the United States Brila reports.

Nigeria has only failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup once since making her debut at Football’s most prestigious tournament in 1994.

Since reaching the round-of-16 in 1994, the Super Eagles have also qualified for the knock-out stages in 1998, and 2014.

Eguavoen Assures Nigerians Super Eagles Will Qualify for Qatar 2022

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Augustine Eguavoen has assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles will qualify for the FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Qatar in November 2022.

Nigeria who already has six World Cup appearances has been drawn against rivals Ghana in the final round of the World Cup playoffs.

Eguavoen believes the Super Eagles have enough quality players to get past Ghana and believes everyone in the team knows the task ahead of them.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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