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The Super Eagles of Nigeria person built a estimation for thrilling their fans, not conscionable with flair connected the pitch, but with heart-stopping qualification campaigns that often spell down to the wire.
Over the years, Nigeria’s roadworthy to large tournaments has been marked by melodramatic last-day triumphs that showcased the team’s resilience and warring spirit.
Here are 5 unforgettable instances erstwhile the Eagles sealed qualification connected the last matchday up of their important 2026 World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic.
1. 1994 World Cup Qualifiers – Algeria 1–1 Nigeria (October 8, 1993)
Nigeria booked their first-ever FIFA World Cup summons successful melodramatic manner successful Algiers. The Eagles needed astatine slightest a gully against Algeria to suffice up of Ivory Coast. Finidi George opened the scoring aboriginal successful the archetypal half, and contempt a precocious equaliser from the hosts, Nigeria held steadfast for a 1–1 draw. That effect sent the Eagles to the USA ’94 World Cup; their archetypal successful history, marking the opening of a aureate procreation led by the likes of Rashidi Yekini, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Sunday Oliseh.
2. 2002 World Cup Qualifiers – Nigeria 3–0 Ghana (July 29, 2001)
After a shaky commencement to the campaign, Nigeria’s World Cup hopes hung successful the equilibrium going into the last matchday. The Super Eagles needed triumph implicit Ghana successful Port Harcourt and for radical leaders Liberia to gaffe up. Nigeria did their portion emphatically, with Tijani Babangida and Yakubu Aiyegbeni connected the scoresheet successful a 3–0 win. When quality came done that Liberia had drawn 1–1 with Ghana, the federation erupted successful celebration. Against each odds, Nigeria had made it to their 3rd consecutive World Cup.
3. 2010 World Cup Qualifiers – Kenya 2–3 Nigeria (November 14, 2009)
Perhaps 1 of the astir melodramatic qualification stories successful Nigerian shot history. Nigeria trailed Tunisia successful the radical and needed to triumph distant successful Nairobi portion hoping Tunisia failed to get a effect successful Mozambique. The Eagles fell down doubly but fought backmost with goals from Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Martins’ precocious victor secured a 3–2 victory, and erstwhile connection dispersed that Tunisia had shockingly mislaid 0–1 to Mozambique, Nigeria’s spot astatine the 2010 World Cup was sealed successful the astir thrilling manner imaginable.
4. 2013 AFCON Qualifiers – Nigeria 6–1 Liberia (October 13, 2012)
After a 2–2 gully successful Monrovia, Stephen Keshi’s squad needed a beardown location show to unafraid transition to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles delivered a masterclass successful Calabar, dismantling Liberia 6–1 with goals from Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, and Ike Uche. That emphatic triumph sent Nigeria to South Africa — a tourney they would spell connected to win, ending a 19-year hold for continental glory.
5. 2021 AFCON Qualifiers – Nigeria 3–0 Lesotho (March 30, 2021)
Qualification for the delayed 2021 AFCON wasn’t authoritative until the past radical game, and the Eagles ensured they finished successful style. Victor Osimhen, Oghenekaro Etebo, and Paul Onuachu were each connected people successful a comfy 3–0 triumph implicit Lesotho successful Lagos. The effect sealed apical spot successful Group L, maintaining Nigeria’s accordant beingness astatine Africa’s biggest shot showpiece.
The station 5 times Super Eagles qualified for large tournaments connected last matchday appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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