Nigeria's national football teams explained
Nigeria has many national teams, and commentators use nicknames for all of them. If you are new to the game, or you see a result in the news and do not know which team it is about, this guide explains who is who. Every one of these teams is run by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The Super Eagles
The Super Eagles are the senior men's national team and the one most people mean when they say "the national team". They play in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), World Cup qualifiers, the World Cup itself when they qualify, and friendly matches against other countries. Nigeria won AFCON in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
The Super Falcons
The Super Falcons are the senior women's national team. They are the most successful side in the history of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, and they have played at the Women's World Cup many times. Their matches are listed on ScoreHub when our data sources cover them, so check the football page on match days.
The Golden Eaglets
The Golden Eaglets are the men's under-17 team. They have a remarkable record at the FIFA U-17 World Cup: Nigeria has won that tournament five times, in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015. Many senior internationals first became known to the public at this level.
The Flying Eagles
The Flying Eagles are the men's under-20 team. They play at the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Players here are 20 or younger, and some are already playing professionally in Nigeria or Europe.
The Olympic team
Nigeria's men's Olympic football team is made up mainly of players under 23, with a small number of older players allowed. The team won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the first African team to win the men's Olympic football title, and the silver medal in 2008 in Beijing.
Home-based Eagles
Nigeria also fields a team of players who play in the Nigerian league rather than abroad. This team plays in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a continental tournament only for players based in their own country. It is a good way to see who is doing well in the NPFL.
How to follow them on ScoreHub
Senior men's matches appear in the football list on match days. Open the Super Eagles page for the next fixture and recent results, or follow Nigeria on the Following page to get an alert at kick-off, for every goal and at full time. Other national teams can be followed the same way by searching for them by name.
Remember that youth and women's team names often include the age group or the word women in the listing, so read the team names carefully before you assume a match is the senior men's team.