World Cup 2018 Preview - Nigeria

Team: Nigeria

Manager: Gernot Rohr is one of the most experienced managers in the African game having led Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso before taking over Nigeria during 2016.

Group: D

Other teams in group: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia  

 

THE SQUAD 

This is a squad that has the potential to go further than any other Super Eagle squad from the past. Nigeria have made six of the last seven tournaments but they have failed to go further than the last 16 in that time.

The squad in full: 

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United).

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor), Tyronne Ebuehi (Den Haag), Elderson Echiejile (Brugge), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), William Ekong (Bursaspor), Leon Balogun (Brighton), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa).



Midfielders: John Obi Mikel (Tianjin TEDA), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester), Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas), John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Joel Obi (Torino).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone).

 

HOW THEY GOT HERE 

Nigeria were the first African side to qualify for the tournament. The Super Eagles are undefeated in their last 36 qualifiers, representing the joint-second-longest unbeaten streak in World Cup qualification. Their last defeat came in Luanda when they lost 1-0 to Angola in 2004. 

 



KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR 

John Obi Mikel (Tianjin TEDA)

The former Chelsea man will wear the captain’s armband for the Super Eagles during the tournament. Mikel, who won the Champions League with the Blues, is currently playing his football in China. 

Victor Moses (Chelsea)

Moses represented England at under 21 level but has earned 33 caps for the Super Eagles scoring 11 goals. His blend of defensive grit and hard running will help Nigeria at the back and crucially going forward.

Alex Iwobi (Arsenal)

Like Moses, Iwobi also played underage football for England but the nephew of Jay-Jay Okocha was instrumental in securing qualification for the World Cup. His winner against Zambia last October following a sweeping move involving Moses and Odion Ighalo, effectively secured Nigeria’s berth at this World Cup.

 

WHERE THEY ARE PLAYING AND STAYING 

16 June:Nigeria v Croatia, Kaliningrad

22 June:Nigeria v Iceland, Volgograd

26 June:Nigeria v Argentina, St. Petersburg

The Super Eagles will base themselves in the Essentuki during the tournament 

 

THREE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TEAM 

Across the five World Cups that Nigeria have competed in they have won five matches which is the most by any African side. Their 20 goals also makes them the top scoring African side. The furthest they have gone in the tournament is the last 16 which they managed in 1994, 1998 and 2014.

All five Nigerian World Cup match victorieswere earned against European opponents – two wins in the USA 94 World Cup beating Bulgaria 3-0 and Greece 2-0, two more victories in the France 98 World Cup overcoming Spain 3-2 and Bulgaria 1-0 in 1998, and a further win at the last World Cup in Brazil when they beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0.

Nigeria have faced Argentina in four of the previous five World Cups they have played in  but have lost all four matches. They met last time in Brazil with Argentina winning an entertaining match 3-2 in the group stage clash in Porto Alegre.

 

THEIR RECENT FORM 

They have only one win this year which is a 1-0 win over Poland. They’ve subsequently lost to Serbia (2-0), England (2-1) and the Czech Republic (1-0).

 

First game: Nigeria will take on Croatia in the enclave of Kaliningrad on the 16 June.

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile