Hassan Abdulsalam
Nigeria first debut in FIFA world in USA 1994.
Over this period of time, Nigeria have scored 20 World Cup goals with 16 players finding the back of the net for the Super Eagles.
However, only Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amunike and Kalu Uche are the players who have scored two goals at a World cup tournament.
1. USA 94’ Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria vsBulgaria)
Whoever deserved to score Nigeria’s first goal at the World Cup must be a player of pure talent and pedigree with the national team and that was what the late Rashidi Yekini had in him.
In Nigeria’s first ever World Cup match against Bulgaria, the former Vitoria Setubal striker had his usual eye for goal and got on the score sheet following a brilliant build up.
Daniel Amokachi set up a defence splitting pass on the right to Finidi George, who broke loose as the Ajax winger made an intelligent run into the box and gave the on rushing Yekini a simple tap-in.
2. USA 94’ Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria vsBulgaria) and Daniel Amokachi USA 94’ (Nigeria vs Greece)
Yekini the goal scorer turned provider for the Super Eagles second as the 28- year-old skipped pass a defender and launched in a cross which was misjudged by a Bulgarian defender.
Amokachi was on hand to beat the goalkeeper and score from an acute angle to double the advantage for the Eagles.
Amokachi’s second goal at the USA 94 World cup was a contender for one of the goals of the tournament courtesy of a brilliant individual effort from the bull.
The former Everton striker improvised with a brilliant turn in the midfield as he took on four Greek defenders to the cleaners.
He then unleashed a shot into an impossible angle which found the back of the net.
3. USA 94’ Emmanuel Amunike (Nigeria vs Bulgaria) and Emmanuel Amunike USA94’ (Nigeria vs Italy)
The Bulgarian did not know what hit them at the first half of their match against the Super Eagles as the Nigerian team were already two goals up as Emmanuel Amunike extended the lead in the 55th minute.
Finidi delivered a delicious cross from the right as the former Zamalek forward ran into the box with a diving header, giving the keeper no chance as it ended 3-0.
After just 11 minutes against Italy in the round of 16, Amunike scored his second in the World Cup when a lucky pin ball fell into his path as he buried the ball with back facing Italian goal post.
4. USA 94’ Samson Siasia (Nigeria vsArgentina)
It did not take time for the Clemens Westerhof boys to go ahead against the Diego Maradona captained Argentinian side.
A little piece of dummy from Yekini set up Samson Siasia who put the ball between the defender’s legs before looping the goalkeeper who was already out of his lines to send the Boston crowd into frenzy.
5. Finidi George USA 94’ (Nigeria vs Greece)
Finidi deservedly got his goal in the tournament right before half time against Greece when Amunike raced on to a counter attack.
The former Rangers player passed the ball to the arriving Ex-Calabar Rovers man who was one-on-one with the keeper before chipping the ball to score a great team goal.
6. Mutiu Adepoju France 98’ (Nigeria vsSpain)
The Super Eagles played with a tactical side that was loaded with stars in best league in the world as Fernando Hierro put the Spaniards ahead with a deadly taken free kick.
Mutiu Adepoju responded with his trademark header when he neatly met a cross from a corner kick taken by Finidi George.
Mutiu Adepoju in action for Nigeria against Spain.
7. Garba Lawal France 98’ (Nigeria vsSpain)
The Super Eagles were put under pressure as Raul Gonzales restored the lead but Garba Lawal’s tamed effort embarrassed Andoni Zubizaretta in goal to claim the leveler for Nigeria.Tittar på VM-krönikan ifrån 1998. Här gör Garba Lawal mål i Nantes.
8. Sunday Oliseh France 98’ (Nigeria vsSpain)
With the score leveled at 2-2, Nigerians back home seemed to be satisfied with the result but the Super Eagles had other ideas.
Sunday Oliseh’s bolt from the blue broke the stubborn resistance from the Spanish team as the ball blazed past the goalkeeper to seal a hard fought victory.
9. Victor Ikpeba France 98’ (Nigeria vsBulgaria)
The Nigerian national team was growing in confidence after the 3-2 victory over Spain as they met a familiar foe, Bulgaria in the second group match.
The Prince of Monaco scored a superb goal after interchanging one touch passes with Austin Okocha and Daniel Amokachi as Ikpeba dribbled past Ivanov to score from close range.
Nigeria vs Bulgaria, 1998 World Cup at France. Nigeria won on a courtesy goal of Victor Ikpeba in the 27th minute.
10. Wilson Oruma France 98’ (Nigeria vsParaguay)
Bora Milutinovic rested some of his key players in the team which made way for players on the bench to face Paraguay after making it through the round of 16.
The South American nation went ahead from a set piece as the ball was headed home but Wilson Oruma restored parity from a lucky rebound which bounced to his path to slot the ball past Luis Chilavert in goal.
11. Tijani Babangida France 98’ (Nigeria vsDenmark)
Football pundits did not believe the outcome of the match against Denmark as the Super Eagles fell 1-4 to the Eastern European nation.
The whirlwind gave the Super Eagles a consolation after the team went four- goals behind. A delightful cross from Jay Jay Okocha found the Ajax winger as he slammed the ball into the corner.
It was a disastrous outing for the Adegboye Onigbinde’s team as the
Super Eagles crashed out of the tournament in the first round scoring just one goal in the competition.
perfect-inch cross from Joseph Yobo from the right was well met with a header from Julius Aghahowa to put Nigeria ahead against the Swedes.
13. Kalu Uche South Africa 2010 (Nigeria vsGreece)
Nigeria lost the match 1-2 to the Greek side who came from behind to score two goals that gave them a vital victory for progression into the next phase.
However, Kalu Uche’s earlier strike from a set piece eluded everybody in the box including the goalkeeper to put Nigeria in the driving seat at Bloemfontein.
Kalu Uche’s second goal of tournament came in the next game against South Korea.
Both teams were playing for pride after failing to pick up points in their first two matches as the Nigerian and Koreans teams were heading home after the match respectively.
Kalu Uche struck his second of the tournament as he lashed on to Chidi Odiah’s teasing cross from the right to give the Super Eagles the advantage.
14. Yakubu Aiyegbeni South Africa 2010(Nigeria vs Korea)
The Koreans were ahead by 2-1 and Nigeria could not afford to lose their
final group game as Lars Lagerback’s men wrestled themselves back into the match.
Yakubu scored from the spot after Chinedu Obasi was brought down as the Everton man slotted the ball home calmly to make it 2-2.
He went on to miss a sitter in the dying minutes of the game which could have given Nigeria the victory.
This is legendary miss by Yakubu Aiyegbeni in 2010 that turned his football career south and change the whole South Korea economy for good.
15. Ahmed Musa Brazil 2014 (Nigeria vsArgentina) two goals
The blockbuster match against the Argentines produced fireworks, although Nigeria lost 2-3 in the encounter, Ahmed Musa scored two world class goals.
A minute after Lionel Messi put the Blue and White stripes ahead Ahmed Musa responded with a cracker as he created space for himself inside the box to bury the ball in the corner.
But some minutes later it was 2-1 in favour of Argentina courtesy of another
Lionel Messi inspired goal. However,right from the restart of the second half, Musa broke through the defence again after a flick from Emenike as the former Kano Pillars winger sent the keeper the wrong way to even the scores.
16. Peter Odemwingie Brazil 2014 (Nigeria vs Bosnia)
After losing the first match to Argentina
it was a must win for the Super Eagles in the match against Bosnia and they got the result.
Peter Odewingie who has been out of the national team for a year scored the only goal of the match courtesy of a resilient Emmanuel Emenike’s assist.
Peter Odemwingie celebrating his goal against Bosnia at Brazil 2014 World cup.
The former Fenerbache striker made a strong run down the right as he wrestled his way past the Bosnian captain before setting up the former Stoke City forward who hit the ball first time to beat Begovic in goal.
