Nigeria's journey to Olympic Football gold

Nigeria won an historic Olympic Football gold medal at Atlanta 1996 after beating the likes of Brazil and Argentina. We look back at Nigeria's tournament to see how they became Olympic Champions.
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[madyYON]

This victory was celebrated in Ethiopia as if our own team had won the gold. What a generation Nigeria had !

[thaironecampos]

Believe me: I'm Brazilian but I'm a big fan of this Nigerian team. It's 2023 and I'm still playing Winning Eleven 2000 and it's one of my favorite teams. Babangida, Okocha and Kanu destroy with opponents! I already made a team with only African players in the master league: Kanu, Babangida, Okocha, Oliseh, Mboma, Masinga, Weah, Slimani etc. Olimpiada more than deserved, because it is not easy to beat Brazil and Argentina in the same competition.

[ngussie]

I remember, i was 12 yrs old still in nigeria when we won the Olympics. it was very late in the night, and we had no T.V. We listened to the brazil vs Nigeria Game on the radio. I remembered my father pacing back and forth the living room. When brazil was up 3:1, it was so sad. And then it was 3:2.. and before you know it, Kanu did what no nigerian has ever done, equalizer the game with brazil. That moment was a defining moment in my life, i saw my father so happy!, the noise that came up, you can hear it, flow through the night skies. Like an earthquake! i swear.. The whole nation was happy, you can see people in the streets hugging one another, no ibo, hausa, yoruba... it was just one Nigeria. No politics no religion but pure joy spread through the nation. And then, the unbelievable game winning goal came..sigh. This game was, against Brazil showed me Nigeria is filled with people with good heart. Yes, we still have greed but i will tell you.. we have football!

[souljaunt]

I love how everyone in the comments, from different parts of Africa are telling their story about these matches. Big love to everyone, Football is a beautiful game and I hope the world becomes a better place.

[boazmusungu]

I was still in primary school in Kenya but I remember we had the names of all the Nigerian players by heart. They we representing the African continent. I also still recall Sunday Olise's goal at the world cup. Thank you super eagles, you made our childhood what it was.

[solomonktl]

This was the most unforgettable game. It was like a roller coaster ride. I watched it with my mom and dad in Ethiopia. Unforgettable!

[mohamoudahmed]

I will never forget those games....celebration were evry where in Somalia even though we had civil war, but Nigeria made us forget. Nigeria thought Brazil & Argentin a lesson.
LOVE FROM Somalia.

[mohamedbenmehressi]

What a nice souvenirs!! I remember everyone in Tunisia were celebrating every win Nigeria made. Nigerian Team and especially that generation from 1994 to 1998 was the best ever!!!

[FootballDaily]

It really was an incredible journey for Nigeria! Brilliant video, too!

[AHMADALSABBAGH]

We were so happy when Nigeria won 🥇 at that time …cheers 🇸🇾

[melkt]

Thank you Nigeria! This Ethiopian is extremely proud of your achievement!

[sweettutos-ue]

As a Tunisian, I believe Nigerian football national Teams were always the best who represented Africa

[kwaru]

Brings tears to my eyes. Such an incredible Nigerian team. I was a young boy in Kenya then and it felt like we had won the World Cup. No African football team has brought joy to Africa like that Nigerian Olympic mens football team

[ultimatetruth]

That was my best moments in the history of the African football. I was the happiest guy in the world after they missed to win the 1994 world cup. Yes, got hurt after that game against Italy. Always been a great nation of football. Love from Senegal.

[CitizenEa]

I will never forget this day; to us, it was like winning the world cup!

[vjay]

I was about 5 when this game happened. I remember my dad and my uncles watching it the Nigeria Vs Brazil game and how much joy there was in the air, I didn’t understand the significance of Nigeria beating Brazil and then Argentina right after. It was beautiful to see looking back on it now as an adult. I literally have tears in my eyes as I write this. I’m not an emotional person at all but this brought out my emotions because it shows the potential that Nigeria has. If we invested more in ourselves, imagine what we could accomplish? From football to academics, politics to business and so on. We have great people in this country and this Nigerian team is just a small sample fo the rest of us. One day we will reach our potential. Now let me wipe these tears of my eyes before I get caught being soft 😂.

[Khaledov]

I still remember when it was midnight in Cairo and You hear a big explosion it's Nigeria scoring a new goal. You should mention that Nwankwo signed to Inter Milan few days after the tournament and the medical test revealed he has a big problem in his heart and doctors in Inter were wondering how come he still a live.

[michaelthomas]

Time flies.this game brings tears to my eyes.what a game it was for all Africans. I was in my country Ethiopia we all went out to the street to celebrate I wanna be teenager again

[jeffomeje]

I had just finished my WAEC exam at the time. There was no light in my neighbourhood, and very few homes had portable power generators. Our entire compound watched the match on a black and white TV powered by a car battery, set up by our electrician neighbour. I had a front seat position. I will never forget the jubilation that ripped through the air that night. It was a perfect moment of unity and love among Nigerians. Everyone who gave up and went to bed when the score line was against us, got out of bed. And celebrations lit up the sky like daytime. It was beautiful!

[Hangman]

My favorite team back in dose days, what an extraordinary players Nigeria had in that time. Greetings from 🇷🇸