Which are the most impressive football records held by Nigeria?

• Nigeria played their first official match in October 1949 against Sierra Leone and went on to secure a 2-0 victory
• Prior to that, they played unofficial matches in the 1930s 
• Nigeria are the first African team to win gold at the football event of the Olympic Games

Nigerians love football and football loves Nigerians, as a result, it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that there are several football records held by Nigeria.

The history of Nigeria and football dates back to the early 1930s when the national team played unofficial games while still under colonizers. They played their first official match in October 1949 against Sierra Leone and went on to secure a 2-0 victory. Nigerians have since set several records making them a household name in the football world. Here are some you probably didn’t know:

1. The Most Consecutive Football Touches In One Minute While Balancing The Ball On The Head

Chinonso Eche. Photo/ The ICIR.

Nigeria’s Chinonso Eche holds the record for the most consecutive football (soccer) touches in one minute while balancing a football on the head. He recorded 133 touches on the set of Lo Show Dei Record, in Milan, Italy at the start of this month. Eche, who beat his own record by 22, dreams of becoming a professional footballer in future.

2.  Most Matches Lost At The FIFA Women’s World Cup

Nigeria’s Florence Omagbemi holds the record for most matches lost at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She lost 10 matches from 1991 to 2003.

However, Florence also has a good record to her name. The 49-year-old holds the record of being the first woman to win the Africa Women Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach. She won the tournament as a player four times in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004. She then led Nigeria to triumph in 2016 as an interim coach in 2016 following the sacking of Christopher Danjuma.

3. The Super Falcons Are The Most Successful Team In The African Women’s Championship

Nigeria is the most successful nation in the history of the African Women’s Championship. Nicknamed the Super Falcons, Nigeria has won the championship eleven times. They first won the tournament in 1991 and last triumphed in 2018.

The Super Falcons. Photo/ Premium Times Nigeria.

4. The First African Country To Win Gold At The Olympic 

Well, you can’t talk about impressive football records held by Nigeria and not mention the fact that they are the first African team to win gold at the football event of the Olympic Games. Nigeria’s Olympic men’s football team achieved the feat back at the 1996 Olympics.

Nigeria were tipped to win gold again in 2000, but Cameroon ended up making history of their own by becoming the second African country to win gold at the Olympic Games. It was in this event that Samuel Eto’o introduced himself to the football world. No other African team has ever won an Olympic gold again.

5. Most Trophies Won At the Under 17 World Cup

Next on the list of football records held by Nigeria is their achievements at the youth level of the World Cup. Over the years, Nigeria has been having a powerful under-17 team that has proven to be a household name at the World Cup. The Golden Eaglets have won a record five FIFA Under 17 World Cups (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015). They are closely followed by Brazil who have won four. Nigeria also have the record for most finishes in the top two and three of the tournament.

Also at the Under 17 World Cup, Nigeria’s lethal striker Victor Osimhen holds the record for the most goals scored (10). He achieved that feat in 2015, leading his team to triumph.

6. The Most Decorated Team in The AFCON

Nigeria last won the AFCON in 2013. Photo/ Goal.com.

Despite their unsuccessful run in the Africa Cup of Nations in recent years, Nigeria still holds the record for the most decorated team in the tournament. They have won gold at the event three times, silver five times and bronze eight times. The Super Eagles have won the most bronze in AFCON’s history. Nigeria finished as runner-up at the 2023 AFCON played at the start of this year.

7. The Most Successful Team In Under-20 AFCON

Rounding off the list of impressive football records held by Nigeria is their achievement of winning 7 titles at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Nigeria first triumphed 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2009 and 2015. Ghana and Egypt have each triumphed at the competition four times.