World Cup preview: Nigeria

Road to the World Cup

Nigeria had a fairly routine path toward the finals in Brazil, which cannot be said for some of the other CAF entrants. Drawn in Group F with Malawi, Kenya and Namibia, Nigeria coasted on a 3-3-0 record, which easily saw them make it through to the two-leg knockout stage where they met Ethiopia, a team that has never made the World Cup finals. Nigeria won 4-1 on aggregate to book their ticket.   

Group Stage Schedule

Formation: 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1

Nigeria’s key strength is in midfield, and so in recent World Cup qualifiers, the team has experimented with a 4-3-3 to accommodate Mikel, Onazi and Moses behind a front three pairing, with Brown Ideye in the middle. However, the team has more often stuck with a 4-2-3-1 with Mikel as a defensive midfielder, and Onazi a box-to-box player. Coach Stephen Keshi has been very open to experimenting with younger players too.

Manager: Stephen Keshi

After several on and off again managerial stints with Togo national team, Stephen Keshi took over as Nigeria head coach in 2011. Two years later, his crowning achievement with the side came with leading the Super Eagles to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, which they went on to win against Burkina Faso. Though he handed in his resignation the following day, Keshi changed his mind and returned to lead Nigeria through World Cup qualification. Recent results in World Cup friendlies however have been less than stellar, with three consecutive draws against so-so opposition.

Projected Starting XI

Projected Substitutes

GK: Austin Ejide

GK: Chigozie Agbim

DF: Francis Benjamin

DF: Joseph Yobo

DF: Kenneth Omeruo

DF: Juwon Oshaniwa

MF: Gabriel Ruben

MF: Michael Uchebo

MF: Ramon Azeez

FW: Babatunde Michael

FW: Peter Odemwingie

FW: Uche Nwofor

Captain: Joseph Yobo

Though Lille keeper Vincent Enyeama has been wearing the armband for some time now in Joseph Yobo’s protracted absence from the first team, Stephen Keshi has recently stated the Fenerbahce defender will once again lead Nigeria in Brazil. “There is only one captain of the Super Eagles and his name is Joseph Yobo. Vince (goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama) has been doing a great job in Joe’s absence but I am telling you now that he (Yobo) remains our captain and leader,” Keshi recently told a reporter. Yobo has been in good form of late and his experience (he is five caps away from a century, with the most caps in Nigerian history) could be a major asset.

Star: John Obi Mikel

Though it seems odd to call a 26-year-old defensive midfielder a “star,” Mikel seems on the verge of finally overcoming years of transfer speculation, and resurrecting the “Makelele” role at his club Chelsea. Though too often unsung, Mikel has a Premier League title, a European Cup and four FA Cups under his belt over his long Chelsea career. He will face a daunting challenge in Brazil, but could emerge as one of the side’s key players.

Young Gun: Ogenyi Onazi

Man of the Match in Nigeria’s recent 2-2 draw against Italy, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi’s time with Lazio has been fruitful this season, in which he's started nine matches, notching two assists, with 14 key passes total. His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by other leading clubs; Onazi has been linked to Fiorentina, Liverpool, Everton, and Hertha. The World Cup could be his breakout opportunity ahead of the summer window.

Swan Song: Shola Ameobi

Though it seemed the 32-year-old Newcastle striker had been squeezed out in recent seasons after the arrival of other key forwards like Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, Ameobi has returned to form this season as a kind of elder statesman. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is even convinced Ameobi could have a future in politics: “You could put him in any environment, any school, any political field and he could hold his own,” Pardew said recently. “It is that intelligence that he brings to the dressing room. I don’t know what will happen with Shola in the future, he could become Prime Minister one day with his personality.” That leadership will also be key for Nigeria this summer.

Three Questions

1. Will Stephen Keshi opt for a younger side including the likes of Bright Dike in the middle of a front three? Or will he opt for age and experience in letting Yobo back in the side?
2. Will West Brom’s Victor Anichebe be convinced to return to the national team in time for the summer of 2014?
3. Can Nigeria best their 1998 form and progress deep in the knockout stages? 

Trivial Matters

Nickname(s): Super Eagles

Most caps: Joseph Yobo (95)

Top scorer: Rashidi Yekini (37)

First international: August 10, 1949 Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria

World Cup appearances: 4

Best World Cup result: Round of 16 (1994, 1998)

Your moment of football