The post-independent national team of Nigeria made its debut at the 1963 African Cup of Nations hosted by Ghana. The team did not qualify from its group. The Green Eagles, as the team was then called recorded its first chief accomplishment when it won a gold medal at the second All-Africa Games in 1973. The team also took third position in the 1976 and 1978 African Cup of Nations tournaments. The national team’s biggest exploit and achievement in international football was in 1980 when it conquered Africa in that year’s final of the African Cup of Nations in Lagos.
Eight countries qualified for the championship which was held in two venues in Lagos (Surulere Stadium) and Ibadan (Liberty Stadium). Group A consisted of Ivory Coast, Egypt, Nigeria (host), and Tanzania while Group B comprised Algeria, Ghana (holder), Guinea, and Morocco.
Sunday, March 22, 1980, remains memorable in the annals of Nigerian football. The national team, Green Eagles (renamed Super Eagles) captained by Christian Chukwu triumphed over Algeria in the final of the African Cup of Nations in Lagos with a 3-0 margin.
Other players selected from the domestic league were:
- Segun Odegbami – forward
- Adokie Amiesimaka – forward
- Felix Owolabi – forward
- Khadiri Ikhana – midfielder
- Emmanuel Okala – goalkeeper
- Sylvanus Okpala – defender
- Henry Nwosu – Midfielder
- Godwin Odiye – defender
- Ifeanyi Onyedika – forward
- Shefiu Mohammed – forward
- Moises Effiong – goalkeeper
- Frank Onwachi – midfielder
- Best Ogedegbe – goalkeeper
- Okey Isima – defender
- Muda Lawal – midfielder
- Tunde Bamidele – defender
- Aloysius Atuegbu – midfielder
- Martin Eyo – forward
- Charles Bassey – forward
- John Orlando – defender
- David Adiele – defender
Under the guidance of a famous Brazilian coach, Otto Martins Gloria, the Eagles took control of the match with Segun Odegbami scoring a brace. Nigeria’s third goal was scored by Muda Lawal.
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