Nigeria’s first appearance at the World Cup was in USA ’94. Nigerians still refer to the team as their best.
World football governing body classed them as the most entertaining side alongside winners, Brazil.

The gold medal winning feat at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games was good for Nigeria but what followed marked the beginning of the plunge Nigeria’s football took after the era of Clemens Westerhof.

The downward trend in Nigeria’s football continued at the Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup.Amodu Shuaibu and Stephen Keshi had qualified Nigeria for the World Cup, a feat that was slipping until the FA sacked Bonfrere Jo who had lost to the likes of Liberia and Sierra Lone before he was sacked. Amodu and Keshi were brought in for a rescue mission.

The coaching problem that had now become a common feature in Nigeria’s World Cup teams continued when the Presidential Task Force set up by late President Umar Yar ‘Adua insisted on a foreign coach after Shuaibu Amodu led Nigeria through the qualifying matches. The Football Federation wanted Amodu to continue and planned to bring in Keshi to assist him. But the Task Force would have non of that.

This vision draws inspiration from our understanding of the multiple mandate of the Bank to pursue both price and financial system stability as well as provide complementary developmental functions by creating an environment for Nigerians to live better and more fulfilled lives. Rather than being competing goals, as some may argue, these mandates are truly complementary.