Down through the years Nigeria has regularly produced quality players. Taribo West, Nwankwo Kanu, Joseph Yobo, John Obi Mikel and Jay-Jay Okocha to name but a few, have all played at the top level and produced the goods for major clubs across Europe.
To the detriment of the national side these star players (some past, some present) have failed to set the world stage alight in recent times. Since the mid 1990s, when the national team’s success accelerated, there has been little cause for celebration for the African nation.
In 1994 Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations under Clemens Westerhof and qualified for a first-ever appearance at the World Cup that same year in the US. They exited the ’94 finals in the last 16 and have yet to better that record following two more appearances in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
Since the failure to reach Germany in 2006 Nigeria has seen five head coaches come and go before Swedish manager, Lars Lagerbäck, was installed to run the rule in South Africa.
Star player: John Obi Mikel
Mikel will play a big role for Nigeria if they are to have any joy in South Africa. Probably the highest profile player in the squad, the Chelsea midfielder will be one of the first names on the team sheet against Argentina, Greece and South Korea.
He usually operates in a holding midfield role but may be given a looser rein by Lagerbäck.
Mikel in action for Nigeria
Manager: Lars Lagerbäck
The Swede is only with the Super Eagles since February of this year after Nigeria had already qualified for the tournament.
The former Sweden national manager got the sack for failing to reach this World Cup with his native country and his switch to an African nation looks like a quick fix situation.
A Scandinavian managing an African team is as contrasting as it gets.
Prediction: Group stage exit
Nigeria will be under serious pressure if they lose their opening match Group B match against group favourites Argentina. And regardless of Diego’s craziness, we can’t see anything other than a win for Messi & Co there.
The Greece match will hinge what way the group will turn out but we predict that by the time Nigeria face South Korea they will be just playing for pride.
Odds: 100/1
Irishness rating: 9.5/10
Guinness sales in Nigeria are through the roof annually. It’s claimed that the average Nigerian drinks litres more of our national tipple than Paddy himself. And they play in green. That’ll do for us.
If they were a car they’d be…
A drag racer – Powerful and big but can only go in one direction.
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