Remembering the 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations (AFCoN 1996) – Why Nigeria Boycotted the Tournament?

As we are approaching to AFCoN 2024, this piece remembers the tournament with events recounted from the 20th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCoN) hosted by South Africa from 13 January – 3 February 1996

The 1996 AFCoN is remembered in at least three facts, First, for the first time in the history of the tournament, 16 teams were participated  staged in four groups. Second, the tournament was supposed to be hosted by Kenya, but CAF has revoked Kenya blaming the country ill prepared to successfully uphold the event

The third record from AFCoN 1996 was quite a rare happenings in the world of football, that Nigeria boycotted the tournament

This piece remembers the Nigerian National Football team that has qualified to the the 1996 AFCoN but end up victim of political interventions that led the team not to take part on the tournament

But, how and why Nigeria boycotted the tournament?