The Road to AFCON: Goals, Gbas Gbos, and “Calculators”

Are your travel documents ready for the next AFCON? Don’t wait until the NFF announces the squad!If you have been a Super Eagles fan for more than a decade, you know that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers are rarely just “football matches.” They are full-blown Nollywood movies.

Sometimes, it is a smooth cruise where we book our tickets with games to spare. Other times, it is a mathematical nightmare where we are pressing calculators, praying for a favor from teams like Benin Republic or Sierra Leone.

The journey to the Nations Cup is where the true character of the team is tested. It is where we have seen our highest highs—like a record-breaking 10-0 win—and our lowest lows, where silence fell over the entire nation.

This is the untold story of Nigeria in the AFCON qualifiers: the battles, the scars, and the glory.

The “Dark Ages”: When Giants Missed the Party

We are the Giants of Africa, right? We are supposed to be at every AFCON. But there was a period when the “Giant” fell asleep.

Between 2012 and 2017, Nigeria failed to qualify for three out of four tournaments. It was a humble pie that tasted very bitter.

The Abuja Shock (2012 Qualifier)

The date was October 8, 2011. The venue was the National Stadium, Abuja.

We needed to beat Guinea to qualify. We were leading 2-1 in stoppage time. Then, disaster struck.

Guinea equalized in the dying seconds (2-2). The stadium went dead silent. It was the first time in 25 years we missed the AFCON. That day, we learned that in African football, it is not over until the referee blows the whistle.

The South Africa Curse (2015 Qualifier)

As defending champions (having won in 2013), we thought qualifying for 2015 was a sure banker.

We needed to beat South Africa in the final game at the brand-new Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo.

Instead, Tokelo Rantie scored two goals. We fought back to draw 2-2, but it was too little, too late. We watched the 2015 tournament on TV.

The Record Breakers: 10-0 and the New Era

Thankfully, the story changed. The Super Eagles woke up and decided to remind everyone who owns the continent.

In the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON, Nigeria recorded the biggest win in our international football history.

• The Match: São Tomé and Príncipe vs. Nigeria (played in Morocco).
• The Score: 0 – 10.
• The Star: Victor Osimhen scored 4 goals that day.

It was a total demolition job. Terem Moffi, Ademola Lookman, and Emmanuel Dennis also joined the party. That match sent a message: The Super Eagles were done playing small.

Fortress Nigeria: Do We Ever Lose at Home?

Generally, playing in Nigeria is a nightmare for visitors. Whether it is the humidity in Lagos, the heat in Kano, or the rain in Uyo, away teams suffer.

However, our “Fortress” has cracks.

• The “Shock” Defeat: In the 2023 qualifiers, Guinea-Bissau came to Abuja and beat us 1-0. It was a wake-up call that shocked bookmakers and fans alike.
• The 4-4 Draw: Who can forget the match against Sierra Leone in Benin City? We were winning 4-0. We ended the match 4-4. It remains one of the most confusing matches in our history.

Despite these hiccups, our home record remains one of the best on the continent. When the Super Eagles are in the mood, and the fans are singing “All we are saying, give us one goal,” victory is usually guaranteed.

Top Scorers in AFCON Qualifiers

The qualifiers have produced some legendary goal poachers. Here are the men who consistently put the ball in the net when it mattered most:

Player	Era	Key Stat
Victor Osimhen	2017–Present	10 goals in 2023 qualifiers alone (Top Scorer)
Rashidi Yekini	1984–1998	The original goal machine
Odion Ighalo	2015–2019	Top scorer of 2019 qualifiers (7 goals)
Ikechukwu Uche	2007–2014	Consistently reliable in away games

The “Minnows” Are No More

One major lesson from recent qualifiers (like the road to Morocco 2025) is that there are no “small teams” in Africa anymore.

Teams like Sierra Leone, Lesotho, and Rwanda now play with tactical discipline. They park the bus, frustrate our stars, and look for counter-attacks.

The days of walking onto the pitch and expecting a 3-0 win just because we are wearing the Green-White-Green are over. The Super Eagles now have to sweat for every point, whether in Uyo or Freetown.

Qualification Stats Breakdown

Here is a quick look at our qualification habits:

• Most Frequent Opponent: We seem to play Sierra Leone and Benin Republic in almost every qualification cycle recently!
• Best Defense: In the 2006 qualifiers, we conceded very few goals, showing defensive solidity.
• Highest Scoring Campaign: The 2023 qualifiers saw us score 22 goals in just 6 matches.

Looking Ahead: The “Let’s Do It Again” Spirit

As we look toward future tournaments, the goal of the NFF and the team is clear: Qualify early, qualify comfortably.

The fans are tired of “permutations.” We don’t want to rely on other teams losing. We want the ticket secured before the final matchday. With the current crop of talent—Lookman, Boniface, Nwabali, and Osimhen—we have the firepower to dominate any group.

We are the Super Eagles. We don’t just participate; we are born to fly.