Africa’s most populous nation Nigeria finally made a belated World Cup debut in the United States in 1994 and immediately threatened to gate crash the party before a sucker punch saw them eliminated on the brink of glory.
The Super Eagles made a first attempt at qualification in 1962 and failed in six efforts thereafter but in 1994 were at the peak of their prowess, having been crowned Africa Cup of Nations winners in Tunisia just months earlier.
Camped out in an isolated Holiday Inn in the New Hampshire countryside, there were not on many people’s radar for the World Cup after being drawn with Argentina, Bulgaria and Greece in Group D.
But they began their campaign at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in dramatic fashion, quickly asserting their potential and making many suddenly sit up and pay attention by hammering Bulgaria 3-0.
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Rachidi Yekini’s goal started the rout and the pictures of him pumping his arms in jubilation as he stretched them through the back of the net have become iconic images.
Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amunike added two more as Nigeria went onto record the best win to date by an African team at the World Cup finals.
It was followed by a match at Foxboro, outside of Boston, that is best remembered for Diego Maradona failing a drugs test, and being ignobily drummed out of the tournament, as Argentina edged Nigeria 2-1 despite Samson Siasia giving the Super Eagles the lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
But Nigeria made sure of top place in the group standings with a 2-0 win over Greece in the last group game, scoring both goals at the end of each half. First it was Finidi George and then Amokachi deep in stoppage time at the end of the game. As group winners, they were up against Italy, who had only scrapped through the first phase of the tournament as one of the best third placed finishers.
They continued to had the air of vulnerability about then as they went up against Nigeria at Foxboro Stadium, where the Africans were paying a third successive game. Amunike had Nigeria up after 25 minutes, scoring from close range as Italy failed to clear a corner, and they were looking well on course to emulate the achievement of Cameroon, who four years earlier had become the first Africa side to reach the quarter-finals.
But within sight of a famous victory, Nigeria let it slip, even though Italy were down to 10 men when Gianfranco Zola was handed a harsh red card. Roberto Baggio equalised with one minute and 45 seconds left of the 90 minutes to take the game into extra time.
Then came another tough call from the Mexican match official as defender Augustin Eguavoen was adjudged to have brought down Antonio Benarrivo in his own penalty area and Italy handed a fortuitous penalty. Baggio converted in the 102nd minute to put pay to yet another African challenge.