Imama Amapakabo's side stumbled out of the reckoning for next year's Tokyo Games, leaving behind many difficult questions
The last time Nigeria made back-to-back appearances in the football competition at the Olympic Games was in 2000. That unwanted record, which has seen Nigeria alternate between editions – one on, one off – will now continue into the 2020s.
The reaction to this latest footballing failure within the footballing community has been somewhat predictable: ire, incredulity, and self-indulgent wallowing aplenty. However, the signs that Nigeria would underwhelm in their U-23 Africa Cup of Nations title defence were always there.