Nigeria

Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Lars Lagerbäck
Captain: Nwankwo Kanu
Group: B


After failing to qualify in 2006, the Nigerians will be keen to impress. Now under the guidance of former Sweden boss Lars Lagerbäck, Nigeria are heading to their 3rd World Cup. Nigeria finished just 1 point above Tunisia in group B in the African qualifiers. 7 English based are in the Nigerian squad, such as, Yakubu, Dickson Etuhu and Joseth Yobo. Nigeria are a team that are strong, pacey and very powerful. Etuhu will be the enforcer in midfield and will use his bulk to rough up the opposition. Everton striker is fit and will be a key player for Nigeria if he can rediscover his goalscoring form.

Football Manager legend Vincent Enyeama will most likely be no.1, so you will see if he deserves his super stats. Left-back Taye Taiwo has attratcted a lot of attention over the last couple years after performing consistently for Marseille. Taiwo loves to get forward and attack, he's good on set-pieces and can unleash some stinging shots. Nigeria have plenty of depth in the strikeforce department, with the likes of, Obafemi Martins and Portsmouth's John Utaka. Former Newcastle Newcastle man, Martins has explosive pace, but at times, his eratic finishing lets him down. The loss of John Obi Mikel will hit Nigeria hard, as his their captain and star man.

Two notable omissions from the squad are Ike Uche and Victor Anichebe, both are strikers and faced stiff competition. Everton's Anichebe has struggled with injuries and couldn't convince manager, Lagerbäck to choose him over the other candidates.


Squad(23):

Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petach Tikvah); Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (Salzburg), Danny Shittu (Bolton); Kalu Uche (Almeria), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), Brown Ideye (Sochaux), Sani Kaita (Alaniya), Haruna Lukman (Monaco), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev); Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg), John Utaka (Portsmouth), Victor Obinna Nsofor (Malaga), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow), Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi (Hoffenheim).



Ant Myers