Rankings:
Caf: 10
Fifa: 57
The Super Eagles, as Nigeria are known, have arguably become an ordinary team in Africa. During the years of Nwanko Kanus, Jay-Jay Okocha, Taribo West, Stephen Keshi, etc. Nigeria used to be an African superpower.
They still have some good players, but for years now the team has failed to match the expectations in international tournaments. Their performance left much to be desired in the 2010 Fifa World Cup – it looked a far cry from the team that first qualified for the tournament in 1994 and qualifying again in 1998 reaching the quarterfinals of the global tournament.
To prove their big slump, the team failed to qualify for the bi-yearly African soccer showpiece in 2012.
It remains to be seen if Nigeria will finally come out of their shell and reclaim their position in African football.
Full squad: Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba), Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers). Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag), Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars). Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis), Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio), Raheem Lawal (Adana Demirspor), Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova), Fegor Ogude (Valerenga), Gabriel Reuben (Kano Pillars). Forwards: Ahmed Musa w(CSKA Moscou), Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal), Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers).
– By Sipho Kekana
