to spare no efforts in building enduring structures to deliver the best in the game to the teeming football fans in the country. Football has a special place in the hearts of Nigerians and we are totally committed to nurturing it to greater heights and protect its future.
In the last two years, the Football Federation has, no doubt, encountered great challenges in rebuilding the nation's football administrative structures and setting out new standards. In the course of these efforts, so much hard lessons have been learnt and new vision and objectives have been fashioned out to enable the Federation achieve sustainable growth in the game at all levels.
Given the national zeal for football and the great potentials in all sectors of the game, the most viable option to stardom is great vision, integrated planning, and systematic execution of programmes. Our great dreams cannot be anchored on ad-hoc plans borne out of the pressures of the moment. This has been our pitfall. Our top priority is setting out a world class administration that will ensure sustained development of the game and earn the confidence of all stakeholders - players, fans, coaches, referees, sponsors etc.
Indeed, key to the rapid transformation of the game in the country are new vision, strong commitment, courage, consistency, honesty and focus. Nurturing winning national teams and clubs for the country is the top expectation of Nigerians and we are prepared with the appropriate vision to systematically deliver on this goal. Our vision stretches through all levels of football, from the grassroots to international competitions. This is central to our dream to be on top consistently as a great football nation on the continent and in the world.
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Football in Nigeria has a very robust, exciting and inspiring historical perspective. This history has impacted a great lesson that has immeasurably charted the programme of the current leadership of NFF. The nationalistic spirit that underlies the historical transformation of the game in Nigeria and the emergence of great national teams, club sides, football managers and very dynamic fans are no doubt sources of great inspiration for the current
leadership of NFF. Football in Nigeria has recorded remarkable achievements since 1945 when the football organizing body was first constituted. Our rise to greatness was occasioned by inspiring leadership that was absolutely committed to excellence, discipline and national pride.
The history of Nigeria football dates back to the early part of the twentieth century. The man behind the introduction the game was Baron Mulford, a Briton, who organized weekly matches between European and Nigerian youths in Lagos. However, the Nigeria Football Association was established in 1945 with the Governor's Cup or what later became known as the FA cup as the major national competition. In 1959, the NFA became affiliated to the continental body, CAF, and the world body, FIFA. After independence the following year, the administration of Nigeria football fell on the shoulders of Nigerians, with Mr. Godfrey Amachree becoming the first Nigerian Chairman of the NFA. Since then, Nigeria has had a very thrilling football history rising to fame and glory through hard work, determination, resilience, zeal and sustained national interest In 1963, Nigeria first participated in the African Cup of Nations, but it was a first round shocker with the team losing 4-0 to Sudan and 6-3 to Egypt. The team which was born as UK Tourists in 1949 and later became the Red Devils before changing name to Green Eagles, and today known as Super Eagles, did not qualify for the competition again until 1976, when the Green Eagles won bronze in Ethiopia.
Nigeria have won two African Nations Cup finals (1980 at home and 1994 in Tunisia), played in the Olympic Games six times (1968, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2008). In 1968, the Eagles sensationally drew 3-3 with 'almighty' Brazil at the Olympics in Mexico City, and in 1996 shocked the world by winning the gold in Atlanta, USA. Heroes of that triumph include Nwankwo Kanu (the current Captain of the Super Eagles and two -time African Player of the Year), Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, Celestine Babayaro, Tijjani Babangida, Dosu Joseph, Wilson Oruma, Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, Uche Okechukwu and Sunday Oliseh.
In 2008, the Nigeria team picked the silver in Beijing, after losing the final to Argentina by a lone goal.
After 32 years of relentless efforts, Nigeria qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time in 1994. The Eagles triumphed over Cote d'Ivoire and Algeria in the final round of qualifying series, a stage where it had fallen several times previously to the likes of Tunisia, Algeria and Cameroon.
It was an impressive debut at the World Cup finals in America, as the Eagles topped their group that included two -time winners Argentina, Bulgaria and Greece. Nigeria defeated Bulgaria (3-0) ,Greece(2-0) and narrowly lost to Argentina (1-2). At the end of the competition the world football -governing body FIFA ,named the Eagles as the second most entertaining team of the championships after winners Brazil. The Super Eagles also qualified for the 1998 finals in France, after beating Guinea, Kenya and Burkina Faso in the final round of qualification. Also, Nigeria was at the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup. In Korea/Japan, Nigeria failed to reach the second round after losing 0-1 to Argentina and 1-2 to Sweden, and drawing 0-0 with England. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the last tournament in Germany in 2006. In the race for 2010, Nigeria has remained unbeaten in the African qualifying series and there is a great national determination to overcome all odds for the national team to be in South Africa.
The other national teams have also made their mark. The Super Falcons first took part in the World Cup finals in 1991, and then played at the finals again in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007. In 1999, the Falcons reached the quarter finals. The team also played in the Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008.Â
The U-20 men's team won World Cup silver in 1989 and 2005, and bronze in 1985. But the most global glory has come for Nigeria in the cadet category, where the Golden Eaglets have won three World Cups (1985, 1993 and 2007).
The U-20 women have played at the World Cup finals in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, reaching the quarter finals twice while the U-17 girls played at the first U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand in 2008.
The beach soccer team has won the continental championship in 2007 and 2009, and has also played at two World Cups.
Football administration has continued to move at a pace as well. At first, football administration was autonomous, until the Decree 34 of the early 1970s that placed the NFA under the National Sports Council. In the 1990s, the Decree 101 came along to re -inforce that.
However, at its Congress in December 2004, the NFA adopted the Statutes approved by FIFA for the running of the game in Nigeria, and the election of 2006 that brought in the present administration was conducted using the Statutes.
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