By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Dennis Erezi
Published on 2024-01-18 09:26:40
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is renowned as the most prestigious football tournament on the African continent. Since its introduction in 1957, it has captivated the hearts of football fans globally, highlighting the immense talent and passion for the sport in Africa. As a result, the tournament has become a cultural phenomenon, uniting nations and creating unforgettable moments on the football field.
Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s football legend, holds numerous African Cup of Nations records despite his death on May 4, 2012. He remains the competition’s third highest scorer of all time, with 13 AFCON goals under his belt. Additionally, he emerged as the top scorer and player of the tournament at the 1994 African Cup of Nations hosted by Tunisia. He also helped the Super Eagles secure the AFCON trophy in Tunisia, finishing as the top scorer after netting five goals. Yekini is still Nigeria’s top international scorer with 37 goals and has held this record for over 20 years.
The Nigeria national football team, often referred to as the Super Eagles, has a strong record at the Africa Cup of Nations, having secured the title three times. Their victories came in 1980, 1994, and the most recent in 2013. Nwankwo Kanu, a distinguished retired player, holds the record for the most appearances at an AFCON tournament, making appearances at six editions.
Segun Odegbami, another notable player, won 46 caps and scored 23 goals for the Nigeria national team. During the 1980 tournament in Nigeria, Odegbami emerged as the highest goal scorer. Emmanuel Emenike was the top scorer at the 2013 AFCON tournament in South Africa with four crucial goals, despite not being included in the final due to injury.
Stephen Keshi, who won the title as both a player and coach, has played a significant role in Nigerian football history. Nigeria has clinched the highest number of bronze medals at the African Cup of Nations, with the nation having eight bronze medals to its name, the highest in AFCON history. Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha also made a significant impact by scoring the 1,000th goal of the African Cup of Nations in 2004, and Odion Ighalo emerged as the top scorer at the 2019 AFCON tournament in Egypt.
Read the original article on The Guardian
