The Nigeria Football Association dispatched a team of 18 players to Britain in 1949—this was approximately 75 years ago, just 11 years after the West African nation gained independence from Britain.

Donald H. Holley, an Englishman, served as the head of the Nigeria National Football Federation at that time. The 18-member squad embarked on the journey by boat, which lasted for two weeks. The tour spanned one month, taking place between August and September 1949.

Etim Henshaw led the Nigerian team, with most players hailing from the greater Lagos area. Horeb International recognized these players as ambassadors for the NFA.

The team sported an early version of the iconic green Super Eagles shirt, complemented by white shorts and strapping on various parts of their feet.

Despite this, they occasionally played barefoot, especially on surfaces with minimal grass coverage, while opting for boots on soft-ground pitches.

ALSO READ: Nigeria coach extends contract, salary slashed to KSh7.3 million

Their debut match was against Marine FC in Crosby, resulting in a 5-2 victory for the visitors. Subsequently, they faced three defeats before securing a draw in Walton-on-Thames.

The tour saw them clinch another victory against Bromley FC with a 3-1 scoreline, followed by a 2-2 draw against South Liverpool FC, according to RSSSF records.

This tour served as an early assessment of Nigeria’s football prowess. Seventy-five years later, they are vying for their fourth AFCON title, showcasing their evolution in the sport.