They qualified from a group containing Argentina and Bulgaria. They came from two goals down against Italy — the eventual runners-up — and were 88 minutes from the quarterfinals. Nigeria in 1994 were not a good African team. They were a good team, full stop.
Rashidi Yekini's first World Cup goal — the scream into the net, clutching the mesh like a man released — is the most visceral image in African football history. Finidi George's run. Amokachi's power. But the real story is structural.
The referee controversy against Italy is documented. What isn't: the internal politics. The NFA's dysfunction. The bonus dispute that fractured camp unity before the Greece game. Players who flew economy while officials flew business on the same plane.
Roberto Baggio won that tie with a penalty in the 88th minute. Nigeria had hit the post twice. They left that tournament as the best team never to reach the quarterfinals, and it would be 28 years before the Super Eagles reached a knockout stage again.