Nigeria is one of the most regular teams at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), although the Super Eagles have missed the tournament on several occasions. Since making their debut in 1963, Nigeria have qualified for the AFCON finals 21 times, including the 2025 edition in Morocco. That means Nigeria have reached the AFCON finals in roughly six out of every 10 editions they have been eligible for their record also includes three AFCON titles, won in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Nigeria’s AFCON Qualification Record
Nigeria first appeared at the AFCON in 1963, but it was not until the 1970s that the team began establishing itself as a regular presence at the tournament, the Super Eagles qualified for the 1976 and 1978 editions before winning their first African title on home soil in 1980, they then qualified for the 1982 tournament as defending champions.
Since then, Nigeria have generally been one of the more consistent teams in African football. They reached the final in 1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023, while also winning the competition in 1994 and 2013.
How Many Times Has Nigeria Missed AFCON?
Despite their strong record, Nigeria have also experienced some notable qualification failures. The Super Eagles did not qualify for the 1968 and 1972 tournaments and missed the 1986 edition. They also failed to qualify for AFCON 2012 and 2015. Nigeria withdrew from the 1996 tournament and were banned from the 1998 edition, so those two cases were not ordinary qualification failures.
The 2012 qualification failure was particularly significant because Nigeria had finished third at the previous two editions, in 2008 and 2010, the team also missed AFCON 2015 after finishing behind South Africa and Congo in their qualifying group.
Nigeria’s Recent AFCON Qualification Record
Nigeria returned to the tournament in 2019 after missing the previous two editions, they finished third in Egypt before reaching the round of 16 at AFCON 2021. The Super Eagles then qualified for AFCON 2023 and went all the way to the final, where they lost 2-1 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria subsequently qualified for AFCON 2025 by finishing top of a qualifying group containing Benin, Libya and Rwanda.
The 2025 tournament was Nigeria’s 21st appearance at the AFCON finals. They eventually finished third after defeating Egypt on penalties in the third-place play-off.
How Often Does Nigeria Qualify for AFCON?
Nigeria have qualified for 21 AFCON finals since their debut in 1963. CAF’s official records confirm the 2025 tournament as their 21st appearance across the editions in which they have been involved, Nigeria have built a strong record at the finals, winning three titles and collecting numerous other medals. Their three championships came in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Their recent record also shows how important AFCON qualification has become for the Super Eagles after missing the 2012 and 2015 tournaments, Nigeria returned in 2019 and have qualified for every edition since then, including the 2025 tournament.
Nigeria’s AFCON Qualification in Perspective
Nigeria’s history at the AFCON shows a team that has been a regular participant without qualifying for every edition. The Super Eagles have appeared at 21 of the 35 AFCON finals held through the 2025 edition, according to the historical tournament record.
Their latest appearance also extended a remarkable run of success at the tournament. After winning bronze in Morocco in 2025, Nigeria had reached the podium in 17 of their 21 AFCON appearances.
For Nigerian football fans, AFCON qualification has therefore become an important part of the national team’s history. The Super Eagles have missed several tournaments, but their 21 appearances and three titles place them among the most established teams in the competition.
