Did You Know? Nigeria’s National Team Once Carried the “Red Devils” Identity Before Becoming the Super Eagles

 Long before the Super Eagles became one of Africa’s most recognized football teams, Nigeria’s national football identity went through several historical transformations, including an early nickname that has largely faded from public memory: the “Red Devils.

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Historical accounts show that Nigeria’s first national team embarked on a landmark tour of the United Kingdom on August 29, 1949, earning the informal label “UK Tourists” during the trip. In the years that followed, the team became popularly referred to as the “Red Devils,” a name associated with their early competitive spirit on the international stage.

Led by captain Dan Anyiam, one of the defining moments of that era came in 1956, when Nigeria defeated Ghana to win the Jalco Cup, a football competition sponsored by the Ford Motor Company and contested between Nigeria and the Gold Coast (now Ghana).

The victory was particularly significant as it came just a year after Nigeria suffered a heavy 7–0 defeat to Ghana in the 1955 edition of the same tournament. The result is widely regarded as one of the early sparks of the intense football rivalry between both West African nations.

Players from that era included notable names such as Baba Shittu, Sam Ibiam, Ebenezer Ben, Okoronkwo Kanno, Dan Anyiam, Justin Onwudiwe, Peter Anieke, Titus Okere, and John Dankaro, who helped lay the foundation for Nigeria’s early football legacy.

Following Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the national team underwent a rebranding, changing its nickname from the “Red Devils” to the “Green Eagles.” This identity remained until 1988, when after finishing as runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the team officially adopted the name “Super Eagles,” which it carries to this day.

Football historians note that these transitions reflect Nigeria’s evolving national identity and growing presence in global football, from colonial-era tours to continental dominance and World Cup appearances.

Today, the Super Eagles remain one of Africa’s most followed teams, but their early history as the “Red Devils” remains an important yet lesser-known chapter of Nigerian football heritage.