By Eniwoke Ibagere BBC Sport Online

At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Nigeria's national under-23 team won the soccer gold medal, becoming the first African side to achieve the feat.

But the team that stood on the edge of worldwide greatness has tumbled into decline, with great hopes crushed by a second-round defeat to Denmark at the 1998 World Cup, followed by first-round elimination at the 2002 World Cup in Japan.

West blamed for World Cup failure

BBC Sport Online profiles what has happened to the players since that sunny day in Atlanta...

Oladosu Joseph: Goalkeeper. Nicknamed the "Crying Goalie" for always shedding tears of joy after a Nigerian win, Joseph went on to play in many of the 1998 World Cup qualifying matches.

But a road accident in Lagos led to the premature end of his playing career.

He is currently welfare manager of the national Under-17 side.

Abiodun Baruwa: Goalkeeper. On the bench throughout the Olympics, he played for Swiss side Grasshoppers and Austrian club Sturm Graz. He is now in search of a new contract.

Emmanuel Babayaro: Reserve Goalkeeper. Kept out by Joseph at the Olympics, the brother of defender Celestine had unsuccessful trials with English Premiership club West Ham and returned to Nigeria to play for Plateau United FC.

Mobi Oparaku: Defender. Oparaku went on to play at the 1998 World Cup but had a comparatively poor club career in Belgium and the USA.

He trained with the Eagles before their African Nations Cup qualifier against Angola.

Celestine Babayaro: Defender. Babayaro showed much promise at left-back, regularly going forward and scoring two goals during the tournament.

English Premiership club Chelsea prised him away from Anderlecht in Belgium but Babayaro has since made only limited appearances for Nigeria due to injuries and squabbles with its sports officials.

Abiodun Obafemi: Defender. Played one game at Atlanta. Joined Olympique Lyon in France and moved to German club Fortuna Dusseldorf before disappearing from the football radar.

Uche Okechukwu: Defender. Nicknamed the "Gentle Giant," Okechukwu was a towering presence for Nigeria throughout the campaign.

West is without a club after being fired by Kaiserslautern

Super Eagles captain at the 1998 World Cup, he quit international football soon after. He now plays for Turkish club Istanbulspor.

Taribo West: Defender. A key player in all competitions for Nigeria since Atlanta, until he quit the Super Eagles following this years World Cup.

His involvement in Christian evangelism earned him the nickname "Pastor." He has had disagreements with some of his clubs, chiefly Derby County in England and Kaiserslautern in Germany. West is currently looking for a club.

Sunday Oliseh: Midfielder. Missed only one match during the tournament and became an influential Super Eagles player. He was made captain in 2000.

Nigeria's most-travelled footballer, having played for clubs in Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands and Germany, Oliseh currently plays for Borussia Dortmund.

He was involved in a pay row with Nigerian sports officials at the 2002 Nations Cup tournament and was subsequently left out of this year's World Cup finals.

Wilson Oruma: Midfielder. Used regularly as a substitute in the tournament. Was capped at senior level in 1995 but has been unable to make an impact.

Currently plays for French club Sochaux after stints with Lens, Nancy, and Swiss side Servette.

Garba Lawal: Midfielder. Also a regular substitute at the Olympics. Became a Super Eagle at the '98 World Cup. Dutch club Roda Kerkrade lured him away from North African side Esperance after Olympic glory. Now plays for Levski FC in Bulgaria.

Jay-Jay Okocha: Midfielder. Talented player and soul of the team.

Okocha is now with Premiership strugglers Bolton

He became a fully established Super Eagles player aferwards and played in all major tournaments since then. Jay-Jay is now with English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers after spells with Paris Saint Germain, Fenerbahce and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Emmanuel Amunike: Forward. Amunike scored the winning goal in the 3-2 defeat of Argentina in the final.

The one time African Footballer of the Year played in most tournaments Nigeria featured in, including the 2000 African Nations Cup. After spells with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and Barcelona in Spain, he now plays for Albacete FC, a Spanish second division club.

Daniel Amokachi: Forward. Brilliant and brave striker whose curling strike against Argentina remains one of the abiding moments of the tournament.

But his form dipped after sustaining a knee injury at Turkish club Besiktas. Attempts at returning to active football have failed since then and is unlikely to return.

Teslim Fatusi: Forward. Played a bit-part role during the tournament.

Fatusi was later capped a few times by the Super Eagles but could not make progress after playing for South African clubs Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Victor Ikpeba: Forward. The "Prince of Monaco" scored from long-range during the semi-final against Brazil.

His career fortunes dipped after the death of his wife in 2000. Ikpeba played for German club Borussia Dortmund and Spanish side Real Betis on loan. He recently moved to Al-Ittihad FC of Libya.

Nwankwo Kanu: Forward. Team captain whose goals took the team to the final following the 4-3 defeat of Brazil in extra time.

Two months later, it was discovered he was suffering from a rare heart disease. This almost cost him his football career but after a major operation corrected the heart defect, he bounced back in 1997 to become a regular in the Nigerian side.

Has displayed epileptic form since joining English Premiership club Arsenal from Inter Milan in 1999.

Tijani Babangida: Forward. The diminutive right-winger became a key player for the Super Eagles and featured in many major tournaments afterwards, including the 2002 Nations Cup.

Bonfrere could not repeat his success

Babangida played most of his club career in Holland with Roda and Ajax but is now in Saudi Arabia playing for Ittihad FC.

Jo Bonfrere: Coach. The Dutchman did not return to Nigeria after winning the gold medal as a result of problems with Nigerian sports officials over his bonuses. Was lured back to become Super Eagles coach in 1999 and took them to second place at the 2000 African Nations Cup.

But further rows with officials and a run of poor results led to his sacking in April 2001. He now coaches Al Ahly of Egypt.