Nigeria clinched her second Nations Cup trophy in Tunisia 94’ after several attempts at Maroc 88’, Algiers 90’ and Senegal 92’ which they came runners up respectively.
The Super Eagles squad of that year were worthy winners of the competition following brilliant displays in the group phase and the knock out stages.
The Clemens Westerhof boys began their campaign in Group B with an emphatic 3-0 win against Gabon and drew 0-0 to Egypt in the group that comprises three teams.
Rashidi Yekini scored two unreplied goals against Zaire in the last 16 and earned a hard fought victory against Cote d Ivoire on penalties in the semis after the match ended 2-2 in regulation time.
Emmanuel Amunike’s became a national hero for Nigeria as his brace against Zambia in the final was enough for the Super Eagles to clinch her second title after 14 years.
Here are the players from past till present
1. Peter Rufai
The Nigerian number one goalkeeper was in goal in all five matches played at the Nations Cup and went further to play 65 matches scoring one goal for the Super Eagles.
Rufai fondly called Dodo Mayana had playing spells in Belgium, Portugal and Spain that spanned for 25 years and now he currently runs a football academy called Staruf Football academy for the past eight years.
Peter Rufai
2. Alloy Agu
The former NEPA shot-stopper was second choice goalkeeper in the Tunisia 94’ squad and had a few spells in Holland, Belgium and Germany.
In his seven-year playing time with the Super Eagles, Agu could only manage 28 caps for the team but he is currently the goalkeeper coach in the present Super Eagles team headed by Gernot Rohr.
Alloy Agu
3. Wilfried Agbonavbare
The late Agbonavbare also had limited playing time in the national team but was a jewel to his Madrid based side Rayo Vallecano where he spent most of his active years at club level.
The former youth international lost the battle to cancer in January 2015 and a recommendation has been made by the Spanish Council to rename the Alberto Garcia Sports Center after the late Nigerian goalkeeper.
Wilfred Agbonavbare
4. Augustine Eguavoen
The former Super Eagles captain was a senior member of the team during the Westerhof era as he cemented his place in the first XI.
Serezo as he is fondly called played 49 times for Nigeria in the space of 9 years but his coaching career has kicked off from 2001 till date having spells in Europe, South Africa and Nigeria.
Eguavoen was sacked as coach of Gombe United in 2017 after losing a home match to eventual league champions, Plateau United yet the 52-year old has managed the national teams in different capacity.
Austin Eguavoen
5. Benedict Iroha
Ben Iroha’s best performances with the Super Eagles was in the 1994 Nations Cup and the World Cup in the same year at the United States.
The former Vitesse Arnhem was a left full back who created more attacking options from the left flank and he scored a famous goal against the Elephants of Cote d Ivoire in the semi finals.
Iroha is presently among the back room staff of his former club Heartland which was formerly known as Iwuayanwu Nationale in his playing days.
Ben Iroha
6. Stephen Keshi
The late Stephen Keshi raised the bar in terms of success in the national team becoming the second player to win the trophy as a player and a coach.
Although injuries did not make him to fully participate at the Nations Cup winning squad in 1994 but he was honoured by stand-in captain Augustine Eguavoen to lift the cup.
The former Anderletch captain soared in his coaching career qualifying both Nigeria and Togo to two respective World Cups and leading the Super Eagles to the Confederation Cup in 2013 in Brazil.
Stephen Keshi
7. Uche Okechukwu
The central defender was the heart-beat of the Nigerian defence all through the tournament with impressive displays without being shown the yellow card.
Okechukwu played in Denmark and Turkey for Brondby and Fenerbache but retired from the national team prematurely with just 48 caps to his name but had two playing spells with Nigerian sides, Oceans Boys and Bayelsa United respectively before hanging his boots.
Uche Okechukwu
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8. Isaac Semitoje
After the second Nations Cup winning tournament in 1994 not much has been heard of the former Iwuayanwu captain.
Semitoje never played outside the country having stints with Udoji United and Bendel Insurance in the local league. He played 20 matches for the Super Eagles in the space of 9 years.
Isaac Semitoje
9. Nduka Ugbade
Ugbade added to his laurels with a Nations Cup win with the Super Eagles in the North African country having captained the national U-17 side that won maiden edition of the cadet World Cup in 1985.
The former Calabar Rovers defender was assistant coach with the U-17 national team that won the World Cup in 2013 at the United Arab Emirates.
Nduka Ugbade
10. Uche Okafor
One of Nigeria’s best legs in the central defence position with height advantage and the master of mopping up the mess with his compatriot Uche Okechukwu.
The former Kansas City defender passed on in 2011 after he was found dead leaving a note indicating his state of depression. He played for Hannover 96, Farense and the likes.
Uche Okafor
11. Mutiu Adepoju
The head master was one of the rising stars in the Dutch tactician’s squad and the Ex-Racing Santander midfielder was quick to learn and adapt with senior players.
After several years in Europe, Adepoju moved to the Far East before he finally called it quits. He played a managerial role with his former club Shooting Stars.
One of his memorable goals was the leveler against Spain at the France 98’ World Cup with his aerial prowess.
Mutiu Adepoju
12. Edema Fuludu
He was one of the few home based Eagles that breezed in and breezed out of the national team but Fuludu gave a good account of himself during the qualifiers.
The former BCC Lions attacker immediately found solace with Tunisian side Altay Izmir where he spent three seasons after the Nation Cup until he retired.
Edema Fuludu
13. Efan Ekoku
The British born Nigerian striker found his way into the 94’ team owing to his form in the English League with Norwich City.
The brilliance of Rasheed Yekini kept in out of first team action but made a quarter final appearance against Zaire where he almost found the back of the net.
Ekoku is now a sports pundit in the area of running commentaries and analyzing Premier League matches.
Efan Ekoku
14. Finidi George
Finidi George became one of the revelations of the tournament as he was known for his darting runs and his pin-point crosses.
The former Ajax Amsterdam star rose to fame and was rated the best winger in world football shortly after making a move to Real Betis.
The Ex-Ipswich Town player is now a scout with his former Spanish club after which he brought in Super Eagles midfielder, Nosa Igiebor in the fold.
Finidi George
15. Austin Okocha
Jay Jay Okocha was the most talked about player in the final match against Zambia with his fancy-footwork that kept the Chipolopolo at bay.
After he was substituted in the second half, Kalusha Bwalya and his teammates almost got the equalizer but the Super held on to claim victory.
Okocha was a decorated personality in all the teams he played including Eintratch Frankfurt, Paris Saint Germain, Bolton Wanderers and with teams in the rest Europe and Asia.
The former Super Eagles captain was a journalist to the Germany 2006 World Cup and also once a pundit but he is now the commissioner of sports in Delta state.
Austin Okocha
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16. Thompson Oliha
Late Thompson Oliha was a local lad that held his own in the national team whenever being called upon but when the foreign based arrived he was relegated to the bench.
Notwithstanding the former Bendel Insurance flank player was part and parcel of the team that lifted Nigeria second Nations Cup trophy in Tunisia.
Before his death the Ex-Iwuayanwu player was assistant coach with Kwara United and gave up the ghost in 2013 due a complicated malaria sickness.
Thompson Oliha
17. Sunday Oliseh
Tournament debut for another future captain of the Super Eagles and he did not fail to impress as his long passes also long range shot became his trademark
The former Juventus midfielder was instrumental standing in for late Stephen Keshi in the defensive midfield position as the team went on to win the African tournament.
The former Super Eagles handler is currently making waves in the Dutch second division side Fortuna Sittard as the second-tier side are big contenders for promotion to the Eredivisie in just his first season in charge.
Sunday Oliseh
18. Daniel Amokachi
Dan The Bull Amokachi will never forget the Tunisia 94 team because it marked his first major trophy at the national team playing as a supporting striker.
Nasarawa United, Enyimba and Ifeayi Ubah FC were the teams he managed in the Nigerian Premier League after his career as a striker.
He was also assistant coach under the late Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen where Nigeria won their third AFCON tournament in 2013.
Daniel Amokachi
19. Emmanuel Amunike
His only appearance at the Nations Cup was at the final where his two goals gave Nigeria the much needed win to clinch the tournament.
The former Barcelona winger was Clemens Westerhof’s joker at the competition and he delivered the goods in the final.
The Ex-Sporting Lisbon player has also had coaching spells with the national U-17 side where the Golden Eaglets won the 2013 World Cup but failed to qualify for the African Championships at U-20 level in 2016.
Emmanuel Amunike
20. Victor Ikpeba
Ikpeba was an emerging star at the victorious 94’ team but he still understudied the Yekini’s and the Siasia’s who were the much experienced players.
The prince of Monaco went on to become a top player for both club and country and he is currently an analyst with a popular broadcast media in Africa - SuperSport.
Victor Ikpeba
21. Samson Siasia
In the modern era, most football followers know Siasia for his exploits as coach which has over-shadowed his popularity as a player.
However the former Super Eagles coach was a member of the team that made history in Tunisia in 1994 winning party.
The former national team coach and U-23 team handler has enjoyed his managerial stints in the country and currently runs an academy called SIA-ONE.
Samson Siasia
22. Rashidi Yekini
He is still regarded as Nigeria most valuable striker of all time and he was voted the player of the tournament at Tunisia 94’ after scoring five goals.
Rashidi Yekini
The late Julius Berger striker plied his trade mostly in the Spanish La Liga and the Portuguese Primera Liga where he played for Sporting Gijon and Vitoria Setubal respectively.
Yekini died at the age of 48 in 2012 after suffering from depression and an undisclosed psychiatric condition.
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