The Super Eagles will go into the AFCON 2023 finals on Sunday against the hosts Ivory Coast, who booked their place following a 1-0 victory over DR Congo in the semi-finals.
It would be the eighth AFCON final the Super Eagles would feature. Of the seven they have played, they won three and lost four.
The losses have come against Algeria (1990) and Cameroon (1984, 1988, 2000).
With all the finals they have played, the Super Eagles have not had any player that has won it multiple times, but several players have played several AFCON finals.
On Sunday, when the Super Eagles tackle Ivory Coast in the AFCON final, the captain of the Nigerian side, Ahmed Musa, and one of his assistants, Kenneth Omeruo, are on the threshold of history.
They seek to become the first Nigerians to win two AFCON titles.
Musa and Omeruo seek historic second AFCON title
The Super Eagles last played an AFCON final in 2013. The game (19 years after their last title and 13 years after their seventh final) saw Nigeria pip Burkina Faso 1-0 to win its third AFCON title.
In the squad that day was 24-year-old Ahmed Musa and 23-year-old Kenneth Omeruo.
Little did they know that 11 years later, they would be leading another generation of Super Eagles to try and win another title.
For the two battle-tested veterans, AFCON 2013 was their first, and they made it a memorable one.
If the Super Eagles beat Ivory Coast on Sunday, Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo will become the first Nigerians to win two AFCON titles.
The only players to come close to achieving this feat are Jay-Jay Okocha,
Sunday Oliseh, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Henry Nwosu and Muda Lawal.
Immortality beckons for Ahmed Musa & Kenneth Omeruo. They are on the verge of history. If Nigeria wins #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 on Sunday, they will become the ONLY Nigerians to have won the Africa Cup of Nations TWICE! #SuperEagles #AFCON2023 #BafanaBafana #Nigeria #Africa pic.twitter.com/O9C08gJbwv
— Babatunde Koiki (@BabatundeKoiki) February 7, 2024
Nigerian players that have played multiple AFCON finals
Several players have attempted the feat of multiple AFCON titles, with some coming close and others playing in the final but not winning.
The Nigerian national team is replete with legendary players that have featured in many finals.
They range from Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini and Muda Lawal to Sunday Oliseh, Jay-Jay Okocha and Victor Ikpeba.
So, which Nigerian player has played in the most AFCON finals? Rashidi Yekini is the Nigeria player who has played in the most finals.
See the table below of Nigerians who have appeared in the most finals.
Ahmed musa is a great captain supporting the players from the bench with full energy, kudus to you legend #Xenophobia pic.twitter.com/ZYyMeo5roY
— Dream chaser ✍🏾 (@SAh_Nu_Si) February 8, 2024
Nigerian players to have played the most AFCON finals | ||
# | Name | Years |
1 | Rashidi Yekini | 1984/1988/1990.1994 |
2 | Henry Nwosu | 1980/1984/1988 |
3 | Peter Rufai | 1984/1988/1994 |
4 | Stephen Keshi | 1984/1988/1994 |
5 | Ademola Adeshina | 1984/1988/1990 |
6 | Muda Lawal | 1980/1984 |
7 | Yisa Sofoluwe | 1984/1988 |
8 | Sunday Eboigbe | 1984/1988 |
9 | Uche Okafor | 1988/1994 |
10 | Humphrey Edobor | 1984/1988 |
11 | Uche Okechukwu | 1990/1994 |
12 | Daniel Amokachi | 1990/1994 |
13 | Augustine Eguavoen | 1988/1994 |
14 | Andrew Uwe | 1988/1990 |
15 | Alloy Agu | 1990/1994 |
16 | Isaac Semitoje | 1990/1994 |
17 | Finidi George | 1994/2000 |
18 | Mutiu Adepoju | 1994/2000 |
19 | Jay-Jay Okocha | 1994/2000 |
20 | Sunday Oliseh | 1994/2000 |
21 | Emanauel Amuneke | 1994/2000 |
22 | Victor Ikpeba | 1994/2000 |
How Nigeria stacks against some other legends
Egyptian footballer Ahmed Hassan has the most appearances in a final match, playing in four finals – 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010. He won all finals.
Roger Milla played in four tournaments, scoring seven goals overall and winning twice – in 1984 and 1988.
Samuel Eto’o was a crucial cog in a dominant era for Cameroon when they became just the second nation after Egypt to defend their title with back-to-back wins in 2000 and 2002.
Rigobert Song was captain of the Indomitable Lions when they won the title in 2000 and 2002.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago