Nigeria Football (Men's) at the Olympics 1968 - 2008

 

Last week, i had a "heated discussion" with some friends on the performance of Nigerian football team (men) at the Olympics. During the "heated discussion", we decided to verify some facts from the internet. To my amazement, no website, including the NOC's (Nigeria Olympic Commitee) website, could provide the answers we needed.

For future reference, i decided to do some research and post the information gathered on my blog.

*** Nigeria's first qualification for men's football at the Olympics was in 1968, hosted by Mexico (Mexico City).

Performance: One draw and Two losses
                      Japan 3 - 1 Nigeria
                      Spain 3 - 0 Nigeria
                      Brazil 3 - 3 Nigeria

 *** Next qualification was for the 1976 Olympics hosted by Canada (Montreal '76). Nigeria did not participate in the events due to the boycott of the games by African countries.

*** At the 1980 Olympics held in USSR (Moscow '80), Ghana qualified but withdrew due as part of the America-led boycott. Nigeria went ahead to replace Ghana in the football event.

Performance: One draw and Two losses.

                      Kuwait 3 - 1 Nigeria

                      Czechoslovakia 1 - 1 Nigeria

                      Colombia 1 - 0 Nigeria

*** 1988 Olympics in South Korea (Seoul '88), Nigeria still did not get through the group stage.

Performance: Three loss.

                      Brazil 4 - 0 Nigeria

                      Yugoslavia 3 - 1 Nigeria

                      Australia 1 - 0 Nigeria

*** At the 1996 Olympics held in USA (Atlanta '96), Nigeria made history by being the first African and non-European country to win gold in football. Nigeria recorded its first win in men's football at the Olympics.

Performance: Five wins and One loss.

                      Hungary 0 - 1 Nigeria

                      Japan 0 - 2 Nigeria

                      Brazil 1 - 0 Nigeria

Quarter Finals: Mexico 0 - 2 Nigeria

Semi - Finals: Brazil 3 - 4 Nigeria. 

Nwankwo Kanu scored the 3rd goal at the 90th minute and the golden goal at the 94th minute.

Finals: Argentina 2 - 3 Nigeria.

*** In 2000 at the Sydney games, Australia (Sydney 2000), Nigeria lost at the quarter finals to Chile.

Performance: One win, Two draws and One loss.

                      Honduras 3 - 3 Nigeria

                      Australia 2 - 3 Nigeria

                      Italy 1 - 1 Nigeria

Quarter Finals: Chile 4 - 1 Nigeria

*** In 2008 at the Beijing games in China, Nigeria's dream of another gold in football at the Olympics was dashed when they lost to Argentina in the finals.

Performance: Five wins and One draw.

                      Netherlands 0 - 0 Nigeria

                      Japan 1 - 2 Nigeria

                      USA 1 - 2 Nigeria

Quarter Finals: Cote D'Ivoire 0 - 2 Nigeria

Semi Finals: Belgium 1 - 4 Nigeria

Finals: Argentina 1 - 0 Nigeria.

Nigeria did not qualify for men's football at the Olympics in the years that were not included.