Lionel Messi scored in the third minute in Porto Alegre and Beira Rio was still buzzing when Ahmed Musa pulled Nigeria level 80 seconds later. Argentina won 3-2. The Super Eagles went through anyway and Stephen Keshi had to prepare for the playoffs for the World Cup.
At a glance:
| Coach | Stephen Cash |
| captain | Joseph Yobo |
| Group F | Iran 0:0, Bosnia 1:0, Argentina 2:3 |
| 16th round | On 30 June 2014, Brazil lost 2-0 to France |
| Base camp | Campinas, State of Sao Paulo |
| He is the best bomber | Ahmed Musa, 2 goals |
| Players at home | 4 out of 23 |
23 Keshi left for Brazil
Four came directly from the Keshi signing NPFL. The following clubs are as listed during the tournament.
| Player | Pos | Club 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Vincent Enyeama | GK | Lille |
| Yusuf Ayyub (c) | DF | City of Norwich |
| Fashionable Clothes | MF | Enugu Rangers |
| Ruben Gabriel | MF | Waasland-Beveren |
| Efe Ambrose | DF | Celtic |
| Azubuike Egwuekwe | DF | Warri Wolves |
| Ahmed Musa | FW | CSKA Moscow |
| Peter Odemwingie | FW | Stoke City |
| Emmanuel Emenike | FW | Fenerbahce |
| John Obi Mikel | MF | Chelsea |
| Victor Musa | MF | Liverpool |
| Kunle Odunlami | DF | Sun Stars |
| Juwon Oshaniwa | DF | Ashdod |
| Godfrey Obobona | DF | Rizespor |
| Ramon Azeez | MF | Almeria |
| Austin was arrested | GK | Hapoel Be’er Sheva |
| Ogenyi Onazi | MF | Lazio |
| Michael Babatunde | MF | Volyn Lutsk |
| Uche Nwofor | FW | Heerenveen |
| Michael Uchebo | FW | Cercle Bruges |
| lead me | GK | Gombe United |
| Kenneth Omeruo | DF | Middlesbrough |
| Shola Ameobi | FW | Newcastle United |
Not everyone accepted the choice quietly. In 2020, Chinedu Obasi claimed he was sidelined because he refused to pay bribes. Keshi’s old aides denied this. Daniel Amokachi questioned why the allegation only came to light when “the person responsible was not alive to answer”.
Curitiba, Cuiaba, Porto Alegre
A goalless draw.
It was the first game against Iran at the Arena da Baixada on 16 June, in the first 0-0 draw of the tournament, Mikel was named man of the match and needed to make a reflex save from Enyeama Reza Ghoochannejhad’s header. Cuiaba was better. In Bosnia, Edin Dzeko’s goal was ruled out for offside and in the 29th minute Peter Odemvingie finished from close range after good work from Emmanuel Emenike. It was Nigeria’s first World Cup win since 1998.
Then Messi.
He scored twice. Musa responded twice, the second time after the break. Then Messi headed the corner kick to Marcos Rojo and the group became Argentina’s team. Defeat meant a round of 16 again, as Iran lost to Bosnia.
Bonus row in Campinas
The team flew back to their base in Campinas. No one practiced the next day. According to TheCable, the players wanted their bonuses paid before the France game and Keshi couldn’t get them on the pitch. Al Jazeera set the figure at $30,000 for each player to advance to the second round. The fear behind it was simple. The players said that the money did not come from the 2013 Confederations Cup.
The correction came by phone from Abuja. The Associated Press reports that President Goodluck Jonathan spoke to Keshi and Yobo on Thursday and said he was confident they would be paid. All 22 fit players trained on Saturday. Michael Babatunde, who broke his wrist, was the only absentee from the group stage.
There was no cash flight to Nigeria.
That summer, a plane full of banknotes belonged to Ghana, whose president, John Dramani Mahama, sent about $3 million to Brazil.
Brazil and the end of an era
On June 30, France and Nigeria fought for 79 minutes. Emenike’s goal was disallowed and Yohan Cabaye hit the post before Enyeama, so the often-time hero failed to take a corner from the left and Paul Pogba headed into the net in front of 67,882 at the national stadium. Then Yobo. Under pressure from Antoine Griezmann, the captain turned Mathieu Valbuena’s pass past his own keeper in added time.
Keshi was angry with American referee Mark Geiger. Ogenyi Onazi said he “received very bad responses and nothing was done about it”. He admitted that this is the first time he has spoken about the judge. She and Yobo later announced their separation. Keshi died on June 8, 2016 at the age of 54 in Benin City. The full story is in our Stephen Cash biography.
Where are they now?
Ahmed Musa was appointed the General Manager of Kano Pillars in July 2025 by the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf. Kenneth Omeruo joined Romania’s CFR Cluj on a free transfer from Kasimpasa that same month, while Peter Odemwingi, who scored the winning goal against Bosnia, went in a completely different direction and qualified as a PGA golf professional in 2024.
Mikel has become one of the most vocal critics of the Glass House, saying after the 1-1 draw with South Africa in September 2025 that the entire NFF board “must go” if Nigeria miss out on the 2026 World Cup. Speaking in March 2026, Emenike claimed the current squad was talented but lacked a “game plan” and hinted at competition for places under Keshi in 2013. Enyeama said he did not apply for the Super Eagles job in 2024 because he did not have a coaching certificate and was concentrating on his hotel business.
Brazil 2014 remains the last time the Eagles have reached the World Cup playoffs since Keshi captained the class of 1994 and 1998; Russia 2018 finished in the group. After two consecutive missed tournaments, 12 years later, the 23-man roster looks less stacked than it did then.
This article was last revised and updated 16 seconds ago