Many would have wondered and many will still be wondering why the golden era and arguably the best African team (Super Eagles) didn’t dominate Afcon in the 90s just like Egypt did in 2000.
There were a few factors that contributed to the poor feat.
After they claimed their second title in Tunisia in 1994, they couldn’t defend the title in the 1996 edition because the then head of state Gen. Sani Abacha had inscribed himself as an enemy to many nations, making it unsafe for Nigerians to travel to most countries.
1994 (AFCON Champions).
1996 (Banned from defending the title by the then Gen. Sani Abacha Govt.)
1998 (Punished by CAF for not participating in the 1996 edition).
2000 (returned into the contest since
1994, Co-host with Ghana and lost the final which was decided by a penalty shoot-out in Lagos)
2002 (Third place finish in Mali)
2004 (Third place finish in Tunisia)
2006 (Third place finish in Egypt)
The resplendent run of finishing 3rd place three times at a bounce after their inability to participate in two editions of the AFCONS in the 90s depicts how tremendous they would have been.
