The Super Eagles captains who won AFCON for Nigeria are Christian Chukwu, Stephen Keshi and Joseph Yobo. Chukwu led Nigeria to its first title in 1980, Keshi captained the 1994 team, and Yobo served as squad captain when Nigeria won its third title in 2013. Nigeria remain three-time AFCON champion.
Super Eagles Captains Who Won AFCON
| AFCON year | Nigeria captain | Final |
| 1980 | Christian Chukwu | Nigeria 3-0 Algeria |
| 1994 | Stephen Keshi | Nigeria 2-1 Zambia |
| 2013 | Joseph Yobo | Nigeria 1-0 Burkina Faso |
The three victories came 14 years apart between the first and second titles, followed by a 19-year gap before Nigeria won again in 2013.
1. Christian Chukwu – 1980
Christian Chukwu captained Nigeria when the country won its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980.
Nigeria hosted the tournament and reached the final against Algeria at the National Stadium in Lagos. The Super Eagles won 3-0, with Segun Odegbami scoring twice and Muda Lawal adding another goal.
CAF lists Chukwu as Nigeria’s captain for the 1980 tournament.
The victory made Chukwu the first Nigerian captain to lead the national team to the AFCON trophy.
Chukwu later coached Nigeria and remained involved in Nigerian football after his playing career. He died on 12 April 2025 at the age of 74.
2. Stephen Keshi – 1994
Stephen Keshi captained Nigeria when the Super Eagles won their second AFCON title in Tunisia in 1994.
Nigeria faced Zambia in the final and won 2-1. Emmanuel Amuneke scored both Nigerian goals after Elijah Litana had put Zambia ahead.
Keshi played in Nigeria’s route to the final but missed the championship match through injury. CAF identifies him as the Super Eagles captain for the 1994 title-winning team.
His absence from the final does not change his status as the team’s captain during the tournament. CAF’s account specifically states that Keshi captained the 1994 side and missed the final because of injury.
Keshi later returned as Nigeria’s coach and led the Super Eagles to their third AFCON title in 2013. That achievement made him only the second person to win AFCON as both a player and coach, after Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary.
3. Joseph Yobo – 2013
Joseph Yobo was Nigeria’s squad captain when the Super Eagles won AFCON for the third time in 2013.
Nigeria reached the final in Johannesburg and faced Burkina Faso. Sunday Mba scored the only goal as Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory.
CAF describes Yobo as the squad captain when Nigeria won the 2013 AFCON title.
Yobo had already established himself as a senior Nigeria defender before the tournament and later finished his international career with 101 appearances for the Super Eagles.
The 2013 championship remains Nigeria’s most recent AFCON title.
How Many Times Have the Super Eagles Won AFCON?
Nigeria have won AFCON three times.
The first title came in 1980 under Christian Chukwu’s captaincy. The team then won again in 1994 with Stephen Keshi as captain. Joseph Yobo led the squad as captain when Nigeria collected its third title in 2013.
Nigeria also finished second at the AFCON in 1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023. CAF’s tournament records list Nigeria among the competition’s three-time champions.
Who Was the First Super Eagles Captain to Win AFCON?
Christian Chukwu was the first Super Eagles captain to win AFCON.
He led Nigeria at the 1980 tournament, where the hosts defeated Algeria 3-0 in the final. CAF’s records list Chukwu as Nigeria’s captain for that edition.
Who Captained Nigeria When They Won AFCON in 1994?
Stephen Keshi captained Nigeria during the 1994 AFCON tournament.
He missed the final against Zambia because of injury, but CAF still identifies him as the captain of Nigeria’s second title-winning team.
Nigeria won the final 2-1, with Emmanuel Amuneke scoring twice.
Who Captained Nigeria When They Won AFCON in 2013?
Joseph Yobo was Nigeria’s squad captain at the 2013 AFCON.
The Super Eagles defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final, with Sunday Mba scoring the winning goal. CAF identifies Yobo as the squad captain for that championship.
Which Super Eagles Captain Won AFCON as Both Player and Coach?
Stephen Keshi won AFCON with Nigeria in two different roles.
He captained the Super Eagles to the 1994 title before coaching the team to victory in 2013. CAF lists Keshi and Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary as the only two people who have won AFCON as both players and coaches.
Keshi died in June 2016 at the age of 54.
Super Eagles AFCON Winning Captains in Order
Nigeria’s three AFCON titles have three associated captains:
- Christian Chukwu — 1980
- Stephen Keshi — 1994
- Joseph Yobo — 2013
Chukwu captained the first title-winning team, Keshi held the captaincy during the second championship, and Yobo served as squad captain for the third title.
FAQs
Who are the Super Eagles captains who won AFCON?
Christian Chukwu, Stephen Keshi and Joseph Yobo are the captains associated with Nigeria’s three AFCON titles.
Who was Nigeria’s first AFCON-winning captain?
Christian Chukwu was Nigeria’s first AFCON-winning captain when the Super Eagles won the 1980 tournament.
Who captained Nigeria at AFCON in 1994?
Stephen Keshi captained Nigeria during the 1994 AFCON tournament.
Did Stephen Keshi play in the 1994 AFCON final?
No. Keshi missed the final against Zambia because of injury.
Who captained Nigeria when they won AFCON in 2013?
Joseph Yobo was Nigeria’s squad captain during the 2013 AFCON title-winning tournament.
How many AFCON titles have Nigeria won?
Nigeria have won AFCON three times: 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Which Nigerian captain won AFCON as a player and coach?
Stephen Keshi won AFCON as Nigeria’s captain in 1994 and as the team’s coach in 2013.
Who won Nigeria’s first AFCON title?
Nigeria won its first AFCON title in 1980 under captain Christian Chukwu.
When did Nigeria last win AFCON?
Nigeria last won AFCON in 2013, when the Super Eagles defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.
Who scored Nigeria’s winning goal in the 2013 AFCON final?
Sunday Mba scored Nigeria’s only goal in the 2013 AFCON final against Burkina Faso.
