The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) stands as a pinnacle of football excellence, where teams from across Africa converge to compete for glory. Organised by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), this prestigious tournament showcases the best talent and passion each country on the continent has to offer.
Nigeria, a powerhouse in African soccer, boasts an impressive record in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), having clinched the prestigious trophy on three separate occasions. In this article, we delve into Nigeria’s remarkable achievements in the AFCON and the countries they went against.
1980: Nigeria vs. Algeria
Nigeria hosted the 1980 AFCON competition, paving the way for a historic victory. The tournament saw the rise of Nigerian football’s golden generation, a side that would leave its mark in history. With passion and dedication, Nigeria won its first AFCON championship by defeating Algeria 3-0 in the final. This victory not only marked a watershed moment in Nigerian football but also signalled the country’s emergence as a strong force in African football. The competition took place in two venues: Lagos and Ibadan.
1994: Nigeria vs. Zambia
Fourteen years later, in 1994, Nigeria added another chapter to its AFCON history. In the lively football landscape of Tunisia, the Nigerian contingent showed resilience and solidarity, defeating difficult opponents to win the title. Nigeria won a hotly contested final against Zambia 2-1. The competition was held in Tunisia’s capital, Tunis, as well as in Sousse, the capital of the Sousse Governorate.
2013: Nigeria vs. Burkina Faso
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations South Africa 2013 for sponsorship reasons, took place from January 19 to February 10, 2013, and was Africa’s 29th football tournament, organised by the Confederation of African Football. South Africa hosted Nigeria’s third AFCON victory, ushering in yet another memorable chapter in the country’s football history. During this edition, the tournament was switched to being held in odd-numbered years instead of even-numbered years so that it does not clash with the FIFA World Cup. Thus, this was the first event since 1965 to take place in an odd-numbered year. Under the 16-team format, the 2013 competition had the greatest attendance of any Africa Cup of Nations event. In a hard-fought final showdown against Burkina Faso, Nigeria secured a narrow 1-0 win to claim their third continental championship.
