Nigeria's national football team played its first official international match in October 1938. The squad competed under colonial rule as British Nigeria. They faced the Gold Coast in that debut fixture.
TThe team played as the Green Eagles for decades. They dropped that moniker in 1988. The Nigerian Football Association officially transitioned the squad to the Super Eagles following a post-tournament restructure.
Continental Dominance and Milestones
Throughout their storied history in association football, the Super Eagles captured their inaugural Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil in 1980. They defeated Algeria 3-0 at the National Stadium in Lagos on March 22, 1980, etching their name into continental sporting lore.
The senior men's team debuted at the FIFA World Cup in the United States in June 1994. They have qualified for the tournament six times. Their next official competitive window opens on October 12, 2026.