Nigeria\u2019s football history will forever carry the mark of Muhammadu Buhari, who served both as a military Head of State and as a two-term civilian president, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports. <\/strong><\/p>\n While Buhari passed away on July 13, 2025, aged 82, his time in power coincided with some of Nigeria\u2019s proudest moments in the beautiful game.<\/p>\n Buhari\u2019s tenure saw youth teams and women\u2019s football teams lifting silverware, which stamped Nigeria\u2019s status as Africa\u2019s football giants.<\/p>\n Below is a detailed look at all the football trophies won during Muhammadu Buhari\u2019s time as Nigeria\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n In 1985, while Buhari ruled as Nigeria\u2019s military Head of State, the country\u2019s U\u201116 team, later called the Golden Eaglets, won the inaugural FIFA U\u201116 World Championship in China.<\/p>\n This sparked Nigeria’s youth football revolution. Per Vanguard<\/a>, Buhari personally welcomed the team back home, and gave them the now-famous moniker, \u201cGolden Eaglets.\u201d<\/p>\n Fast forward 30 years later, under Buhari\u2019s civilian presidency, Nigeria\u2019s Golden Eaglets claimed the 2015 FIFA U\u201117 World Cup in Chile. This triumph extended Nigeria\u2019s record as the most successful nation in the tournament\u2019s history.<\/p>\n Also in 2015, the U\u201123 Eagles won the CAF U\u201123 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal. The victory earned them qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympics.<\/p>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/imago245848788-scaled.jpg\")
Soccer Golden Eaglets Win Nigeria\u2019s First FIFA Trophy (1985)<\/h2>\n
Soccer 2015 FIFA U\u201117 World Cup (2015)<\/h2>\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2015-U\u201117-World-Cup-Nigeria.jpg\")
Soccer CAF U\u201123 Africa Cup of Nations (2015)<\/a><\/h2>\n