From missing the Afcon in January to qualifying for the 2018 World Cup with a game to spare and beating Argentina in a friendly game in November, Nigeria had a spectacular 2017.

The country's football federation president Amaju Pinnick also won a seat into the Caf's Executive Committee in March.

Soccer Square takes you back to these major events that shaped Nigerian football in 2017:
Super Eagles Qualified For The 2018 Fifa World Cup

Super Eagles Qualified For The 2018 Fifa World Cup

With a game to spare in the “Group of Death”, the Super Eagles overcame a stubborn Chipolopolo of Zambia 1-0 in October to book their place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

They qualified with 13 points after Fifa later awarded Algeria three points and goals from their last match of the qualifiers.

The 1994 African soccer kings were punished for fielding an ineligible player for the game, despite playing a 1-1 draw with the Desert Foxes.

Nigeria won four games, drew one and lost one (the match against Algeria in Constantine) during the qualification battle for Russia 2018.

With the qualification, Gernot Rohr’s side will be hoisting their flags for the sixth time in the global football fiesta billed for Vladimir Putin’s home country.

Their first outing was in 1994 in USA where Clemens Westerholf led them to a round of 16 finish.

The Mikel Obi captained side have not gone past that stage in the competition and will play in Group D alongside Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in 2018.

South Africa Beat Nigeria For The First Time In A Competitive Match

The Super Eagles lost 0-2 to South Africa in June during a 2019 Afcon qualifiers in Uyo.

That was the first time the side have lost to the Bafana Bafana in a competitive game. It was also the first loss for Head Coach Gernot Rohr since he took over the side in 2016, August.
Super Eagles Missed Second Consecutive AFCON Finals Eagles Missed Second Consecutive AFCON Finals

For the second time on a bounce, Nigeria missed out of the African Cup of Nations. They had missed the 2015 edition which was won by Ivory Coast after winning the competition in 2013 in South Africa.

The Super Eagles lost the ticket to the Pharaohs of Egypt after garnering 5 points in the qualifiers.
Cameroon were to later win the title in early February, beating Egypt!

Eagles Goalkeeper Carl Ikeme Diagnosed With Acute Leukemia

Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Super Eagles were dealt a heavy blow when number one shot-stopper Carl Ikeme was diagnosed of acute Leukemia in July.

The 31-year-old had returned some abnormal blood tests during his pre-season testing with the English Championship side.

And further medical investigation showed he was suffering from leukemia.

The club immediately began a course of chemotherapy in his lengthy fight against the disease.

The development left the three time African champions battling to find a suitable replacement in goal as they prepare for the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

Plateau United Crowned Nigerian Premier League Champions

The Jos-based side, after returning to the top flight in 2015, in September, won the Nigeria Professional Football League, the first time in the club’s history.

They had amassed 66 points to be crowned the 19th Nigerian soccer kings after beating Rangers International 2-0 at the Rwang Pam Stadium.

Plateau United got a prize money of N50 million and will represent Nigeria at the African Champions League.

CAf Amaju Pinnick Elected Into Caf Executive Committee

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (Nff), Amaju Pinnick, won a seat into the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) in March.

The former Delta Football Association (FA) boss had beaten incumbent Moucharafou Anjorin of Benin Republic by 32 to 17 votes at the Caf elective congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in April.

The West African country is now making a return to Caf’s highest organ since the exit of Amos Adamu.

Pinnick (Western Africa Zone B) joined Musa Bility (Liberia and Western Africa Zone A) Faozi Lekjaa (Morocco and Northern African Zone) and Danny Jordaan (South Africa and Southern African zone) as members of the Caf Executive Committee.


Super Eagles Walloped Argentina In Friendly Game


Coming from securing a World Cup berth, the Super Eagles mauled two-time World Champions Argentina 4-2 in a friendly game in Russia in November.

The win, with Argentina playing without Lionel Messi, was the three-time African champion's second victory over the Albiceleste.

Both teams seven times with the South Americans winning five. Arsenal's youngster Alex Iwobi netted a brace with Kelechi Iheanacho and new boy Brian Idowu netted scoring a goal each.

Fifa Sanctions Nigeria Over Ineligible Player

Fifa punished Nigeria for fielding an ineligible player in their final World Cup qualifier against the Desert Foxes of Algeria in November.

The match in Constantine initially ended 1-1 but was overturned and Algeria awarded a 3-0 win.

The sanction did not affect Nigeria’s World Cup qualification as they had already clinched a place in Russia before the Algeria game.

Abdullahi Shehu played 90 minutes in Algeria even though he should have been suspended for picking up yellow cards in two previous qualifiers.

The defender was booked in the Super Eagles 1-0 win over Zambia in October that sealed Nigeria’s spot in Russia, having been shown a yellow card in the first leg of their second round tie against Swaziland in November 2015.

The Nigeria Football Federation was also fined US$6,000 for the oversight.


2017 was fantastic generally for Nigerian football. What event stood out for you during the year?

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Highlights Of Major Happenings In Nigeria Football In 2017