It is now 45 years since the Super Eagles of Nigeria won its first Africa Cup of Nations title which has since paved for a handful of bronze medals and two more titles.
Super Eagles official X handle shared a heartfelt message to commemorate the country’s first continental success on Saturday morning.
The maiden victory was quite significant as the Super Eagles won the title on home soil in front of a mammoth crowd at the national stadium in Lagos.
Christian “Chairman” Chukwu lifted the trophy in front of the former president of Nigeria Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
The Green Eagles had a quite a smooth ride en route to the final with a handful of talented players like Segun Odegbami, the late Muda Lawal, “Chief Justice” Adokiye Amiesimika, Aloysius Atuegbu, Felix “Owoblow” Owolabi, Henry Nwosu among others.
Led by late Brazilian coach Otto Gloria, the “Green Eagles” as they were called then, started the campaign with a 3-1 win over Tanzania but played a goalless draw in the second match against Cote D’Ivoire.
Okey Isima scored the only goal against Egypt in the final group stage match as they progressed to the quarter-finals.
The Nations Cup had just two groups of eight teams then so the Green Eagles qualified for the semi-finals alongside three North African teams Morroco, Egypt and Algeria.
Nigeria defeated Morroco 1-0 in the semi-final courtesy of Felix Owolabi’s first half strike while Algeria edged Egypt 4-2 on penalties after a pulsating two-draw in regular time.
Christian Chukwu in an interview in 2023 said the team was relaxed the night before the final and indeed they were as they breezed past Algeria in the final comfortably.
Segun odegbami scored twice in the first half while Muda Lawal assed the third in the second half to give the Green Eagles the win and its first Africa Cup of Nations title.
