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- Home Jersey
- Year: 1994
- Player: Okocha, Chidi Nwanu, Rashidi Yekini
- Size: XL (61 cm x 75.5 cm)
- Brand: Nike
- Sponsor: -
- Details: Excellent condition, as worn by Jay-Jay Okocha amongst others on the World Cup 1994 in USA.
In 1994, Nigeria participated in the World Cup for the first time, having earlier won the Africa Cup in Tunisia. To reward the national team players for their achievement, Nigeria's military chief, General Sani Abacha, gifted each player a three-room flat and 20,000 guilders . "We have come to the United States to show that Nigeria is capable of playing in the final round," declared Dutch national coach Clemens Westerhof after an impressive 3-0 victory in the opening match against Bulgaria. The team also triumphed over Greece (2-0) and only lost to vice-world champion Argentina in the group stage (1-2). At the time, 17 of the 22 World Cup players were involved in European competitions, which disrupted Westerhof's preparation for the global tournament. Not all players were released by their clubs for practice internationals, and some players refused to attend. Moreover, Westerhof was not universally liked by the players, leading to a division within the team into pro- and anti-Westerhof camps. Goalkeeper Peter Rufai, midfielder Augustine Okocha, and striker Rashidi Yekini were among those who opposed him . Yekini, who had scored 17 goals during World Cup qualification, openly criticized Westerhof just before the Africa Cup final, accusing him of prioritizing player transfers over coaching. "All internationals think that way, but most don't dare open their mouths," Yekini said in an interview. "If you do not use his services as a player's agent, you will be dropped from the team." At the World Cup, tensions flared when Yekini was substituted after 68 minutes in the match against Greece. Nigeria then lost 2-1 to eventual vice-world champions Italy in the round of 16. Following the defeat, Westerhof was replaced by his assistant Jo Bonfrère, who would go on to win the Olympic title in Atlanta two years later. Many media outlets concluded that Nigeria's elimination was unnecessary; the team was leading 1-0 against a 10-man Italy shortly before the end but became complacent, allowing Roberto Baggio to decide the match in Italy's favor during extra time.