BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK

As African teams continue to make headlines at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 by securing places in the knockout stage, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are watching from afar.

It is a painful contrast for a nation that once carried Africa’s hopes at the World Cup and whose national team should have had its 77th anniversary this weekend.

While Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and South Africa have all captured global attention with impressive performances in the expanded 48-team tournament, Nigeria remains one of the notable absentees from football’s biggest stage.

The timing is particularly poignant.

This weekend marked 77 years since the formation of Nigeria’s first national football team, the foundation upon which the modern Super Eagles were built.

On June 26, 1949, the then Nigeria Football Association announced the first-ever squad assembled to represent the country internationally, giving birth to what would eventually become one of Africa’s most celebrated football institutions.

Yet as the anniversary passed, Nigerian football fans were left reflecting on what might have been had the Super Eagles successfully navigated the qualification series for the World Cup being jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Africa Flying High

The absence of Nigeria has become even more glaring because of the performances of fellow African nations.

Morocco, Africa’s standard-bearers since their historic semi-final appearance at Qatar 2022, have once again advanced to the knockout rounds after an impressive campaign.

Egypt, inspired by Mohamed Salah but increasingly reliant on a broader supporting cast, reached the World Cup knockout phase for the first time in their history.

Senegal created history by becoming the first African team to score five goals in a World Cup match, while Côte d’Ivoire secured a maiden appearance in the knockout stage.

Perhaps the biggest fairy tale belongs to Cape Verde, the tiny island nation that progressed from the group stage in its first-ever World Cup appearance.

South Africa have also carried the continent’s flag proudly and are preparing for a Round of 32 encounter with co-hosts Canada.

For many Nigerian supporters, the success of these nations serves as both inspiration and frustration.

From Pioneers to Continental Powerhouse

The irony is that Nigeria’s national team was born from ambition and vision.

Following a series of selection matches involving players from different regions of the country, the NFA Selection Committee on June 26, 1949 unveiled the first 17 players chosen to represent Nigeria internationally.

Five days later, an 18th player was added.

The squad included pioneering figures such as Sam Ibiam, Dan Anyiam, Tesilimi Balogun, Titus Okere, Etim Henshaw, Peter Anieke and Sokari Dokubo.

Initially known as the “International Group” and later the “UK Tourists,” the team was assembled for a historic goodwill tour of the United Kingdom in August 1949.

Captain Donald H. Holley, then chairman of the NFA, managed the squad, while debates over team selection and captaincy generated public interest long before the team embarked on its journey.

Those pioneers laid the foundation for what would become one of Africa’s most successful national teams.

Over the years, the team evolved from the UK Tourists to the Red Devils, then the Green Eagles and eventually the Super Eagles.

The national team went on to win three Africa Cup of Nations titles, claim Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 and qualify for six FIFA World Cups between 1994 and 2018.

A Date of Mixed Memories

The anniversary also coincides with one of the darkest chapters in Nigeria’s World Cup history.

June 28 brings back memories of the Super Eagles’ disastrous 4-1 defeat by Denmark in the Round of 16 at France ’98, widely regarded as the team’s worst performance at a World Cup finals.

Yet there have been brighter moments attached to the same period.

On June 26, 2019, exactly 70 years after the announcement of Nigeria’s first national team squad, the Super Eagles defeated Guinea 1-0 in Egypt to become the first team to qualify for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Today, however, the conversation revolves around absence rather than achievement.

Looking Ahead

As the Super Eagles celebrate 77 years of existence, the anniversary serves as both a celebration of a proud history and a reminder of unfinished business.

The team that emerged from a list of 17 names announced in 1949 grew into Nigeria’s most powerful sporting symbol and one of Africa’s most recognisable football brands.

But with African rivals flourishing on the World Cup stage and rewriting records in North America, many Nigerian football followers are asking when the Super Eagles will once again take their place among the continent’s elite on football’s grandest platform.

Seventy-seven years after the birth of the national team, the challenge remains the same: ensuring that Nigeria’s rich football heritage is matched by consistent success on the global stage

Nigeria National Football Team timeline

• 1949 – June 26^th, UK Tourists, Nigeria’s pioneer national team, was formed.
• 1949 – October 8^th, Nigeria’s first international match, a 2-0 defeat of Sierra Leone in Freetown
• 1951 – October 20^th, Nigeria’s first cup victory, a 5-0 defeat of Gold Coast (Ghana) in the Jalco Cup
• 1973 – January 18^th, Nigeria beat Guinea 2-0 to win the gold medal of the 2^nd All Africa Games in Lagos: Nigerian football’s first continental achievement.
• 1980 – March 22^nd: Nigeria’s first AFCON title
• 1993 –October 8^th: On the 44^th anniversary of Nigeria’s first international match, the Super Eagles qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
• 1994- June 21^st: Nigeria made a winning debut in the World Cup by beating Bulgaria 3-0 in their opening match.
• 1996 – August 3: Nigeria became the first team outside Europe in 68 years to win the Olympic soccer Gold
• 2018 – June 26^th: Last World Cup appearance, a 2-1 loss to Argentina
• 2022– March 29^th: Nigeria failed in World Cup 2022 qualification
• 2025 – November 16^th: Nigeria failed in World Cup 2026 qualification

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

South Africa and Canada will make history on Sunday when they meet in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, with both nations contesting their first-ever knockout match at the global football showpiece.

The clash represents uncharted territory for two teams that have exceeded expectations to reach the expanded tournament’s knockout phase, guaranteeing that one nation will achieve its best-ever World Cup performance by advancing to the last 16.

While neither side boasts a rich World Cup knockout pedigree, both have demonstrated resilience and determination during the group stage to earn their place among the final 32 teams.

The encounter will also mark the first competitive meeting between the countries. Their only previous international clash came in a friendly match in 2007, when South Africa emerged 2-0 winners. Nearly two decades later, the stakes are considerably higher, with a place in the Round of 16 on the line.

For South Africa, reaching the knockout stage is another milestone in the country’s football journey. Bafana Bafana will hope to draw inspiration from their lone previous victory over the Canadians while seeking to become only the second African side to reach the last 16 of the tournament.

Canada, meanwhile, have continued their steady rise on the international stage. Having established themselves as a growing force in CONCACAF football in recent years, the North Americans now have an opportunity to write a new chapter in their football history by securing their first World Cup knockout victory.

With no previous World Cup meetings and little competitive history between the teams, the fixture presents an intriguing battle of contrasting football cultures and ambitions. The winner will not only advance to the Round of 16 but will also set a new benchmark in their nation’s World Cup record books.

As both teams prepare for the biggest match in their World Cup histories, the contest promises a blend of nerves, excitement and opportunity, with a place among the tournament’s final 16 serving as the ultimate reward.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Ticket prices for next week’s FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash between Portugal and Croatia have surged to record levels on resale platforms, fuelled by the prospect of a showdown between football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric.

According to data from ticket-tracking website Ticketdata, the average price of the cheapest available resale ticket had climbed to $3,225 by late Saturday, making it the most expensive Round of 32 match of the tournament so far.

The spike came after Portugal were held to a draw by Colombia in Miami, a result that left Cristiano Ronaldo’s side as runners-up in Group K. Croatia also finished second in their group after defeating Ghana, setting up a blockbuster knockout encounter at Toronto Stadium on July 2.

The match will reunite Ronaldo and Modric, former teammates at Real Madrid who won multiple UEFA Champions League titles together and are widely regarded among the greatest players of their generation.

Ticketdata, which compiles information from resale platforms including StubHub and Vivid, reported that the average price for the cheapest ticket more than doubled following the conclusion of Portugal’s group-stage campaign.

The sharp increase highlights the impact of FIFA’s dynamic pricing model, introduced for the 2026 World Cup. The system allows ticket prices to fluctuate with demand, a practice commonly used at North American sports and entertainment events.

Demand throughout the tournament has already driven resale prices for several group-stage matches above $1,000, with the Ronaldo-Modric encounter now setting a new benchmark for knockout-stage fixtures.

The soaring prices have renewed debate over the affordability of attending the World Cup. Earlier analyses indicated that rising ticket and accommodation costs are increasingly placing the tournament beyond the reach of many traditional supporters, potentially reshaping the profile of World Cup spectators.

FIFA has repeatedly advised fans to use only its official ticket resale platform, stressing that it is the sole marketplace through which the governing body can guarantee the secure transfer and delivery of tickets.

With two of football’s most celebrated veterans set to meet on the World Cup stage, demand shows little sign of easing as supporters scramble for a chance to witness what could be one of the tournament’s most memorable knockout ties.

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