Aboutaball :: About World Football

Football News, Articles, Statistics, Links and more…

African Cup of Nations 2010: Nigeria Team Guide

One of Africa’s best known teams is back for another crack at the African Cup of Nations. Despite all of Nigeria’s success at World Cup and Olympic level their last victory in this competition dates back to 1994. Fans of the Super Eagles will be hoping 2010 could be their year.

There is certainly plenty of hype surrounding Nigerian football currently. With one of the strongest squads on the continent, hopes are high that they can wrest back continental superiority from the like of Egypt and the Ivory Coast, who have stolen a march on the country once touted to be the most likely to become Africa’s first ever winners of the World Cup.

Nigeria’s fall from grace started with failing to make it to the World Cup in 2006 after being stunned by Angola, who sneaked through to Germany courtesy of a better head-to-head record after the pair finished level on 21 points. Stung by their failure to reach those finals, Nigeria opted for a foreign coach for the first time in seven years in the shape of Berti Vogts, a decision that in retrospect appeared to be a step backwards.

Following qualification for the 2008 African Cup of Nations, Nigeria struggled to match the very best on the continent and after three successive appearances in the semi-finals, a lacklustre Super Eagles side managed only a quarter-final place and relied on goal difference to see them ahead of Mali in the group. With just two goals scored from the three group matches and a further one during the quarter final defeat to hosts Ghana, it looked like Nigeria’s demotion to second ranking team on the continent was complete.

Shoots of recovery

Much of the blame for the teams paltry attacking output was laid at the door of Berti Vogts, who adopted an ultra-narrow approach at the 2008 African Cup of Nations, which allowed the opposition to herd Nigeria into a tight corridor through the centre of the pitch. That dismal performance resulted in the inevitable dismissal for Vogts, and paved the way for the return of the controversial figure of Shaibu Amodu.

The arrival of Amodu for his third spell in charge appears to have been the catalyst for the team to recover some of its former glory during the successful qualification campaign for the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations. Whilst many of Nigeria’s foreign coaches such as Dutchman Clemens Westerhof and the wily Bora Milutinovic are the most easily remembered by many global football fans, Amodu enjoys statistically a better record during his spells in charge of the team. Amodu certainly doesn’t lack for self-confidence, recently declaring himself the best man for the job in the local press.

On recent results it’s hard not to argue with him. Along with the Ivory Coast, Nigeria were the only side to go unbeaten during the qualification campaign, notching six straight wins in the first qualifying section, the only side to achieve this, and then posting three wins and three draws in the harder second phase.

However, Amodu’s detractors point to the last-gasp nature of qualification, which was secured with barely minutes to go in the final match. Ultimately passage to South Africa was based as much on Nigeria’s results, as the fact that Tunisia, group leaders until the final round of matches, were surprisingly beaten by Mozambique, whilst Nigeria plundered a late winner in Kenya to overhaul them.

Having been given such a scare on the way to South Africa, there has been much speculation that the Nigerian FA are on the look-out for a new coach, and may well turn to another foreigner. Mozambique’s Dutch coach Mart Nooij has been sounded out as a potential replacement, whilst big name managers currently out of work such as Guus Hiddink and Fatih Terim have also been touted as possibilities.

Set against this typically chaotic back-drop, Nigeria will be using the 2010 African Cup of Nations as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup to be held later in the year with the match against reining African champions Egypt the stiffest test in the group-stages.

Nigeria don’t enjoy a particularly great record at the African Cup of Nations with just two victories to their credit, one of which came in 1980 on home-soil. Nevertheless having reached at least the semi-finals in four of the last five tournaments played since the turn of the century, Nigeria will undoubtedly be considered a major threat for overall honours.

Squad

Goalkeepers � Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petach Tikva), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda)

Defenders � Joseph Yobo (Everton), Onyekachi Apam (Nice), Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Obinna Nwaneri (Sion), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Yusuf Mohamed (Sion), Uwa Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Danny Shittu (Bolon Wanderers)

Midfielders � John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Ayila Yussuf (Dynamo Kiev), Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City), Sani Keita (Kuban), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), Kalu Uche (Almeria)

Attackers � Kanu (Portsmouth), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim), Yakubu (Everton), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow), Victor Obinna (Malaga), Obafemi Martins (VfL Wolfsburg)

Players to Watch

Marseille left-back Taye Taiwo has been frequently linked with moves to the Premiership in recent seasons. The adventurous defender is more often seen in the opposition half than back defending, and occasionally his sense of adventure can cause him to be caught out. Nevertheless, with Nigeria still seemingly suffering from a chronic lack of width in the squad for the 2010 African Cup of Nations, much of the onus to provide attacking momentum from the left flank may fall on the shoulders of Taiwo.

Former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins has struggled for consistent game-time since leaving the relegated Teesiders in the summer. Nevertheless when given the chance at Wolfsburg, Martins has shown he has lost none of this predatory instinct, and it was his goal late on in Nairobi that sealed Nigeria’s passage to the World Cup. The Super Eagles will be hoping with Kanu ageing and Yakubu only recovering slowly from recent injuries that Martins has brought his shooting boots to Angola.

Fixtures

12th Jan � Egypt

16th Jan � Benin

20th Jan � Mozambique

Prediction

The opening match of the group will be one of the highlights of the early stages of the 2010 African Cup of Nations, and it will be fascinating to see whether Nigeria have indeed bridged the gap to the very best in the continent, a label they aspire to hold. The Super Eagles will also have to be wary of Benin, who are one of the continents fast improvers, whilst Mozambique held Nigeria to a draw at home in qualification for this tournament. Thanks to some outstanding talent up front, Nigeria will always rank as a threat. However whether they have enough to match the like of the Ivory Coast and Ghana remains open to debate, and they may be heading for more semi-final heartbreak in Angola.

Posted by Walter Townsend on Wednesday, 6th January 2010

(Average rating 0 from 0 votes. Vote)
(0 Comments)

Want to write about Football? At About a ball we're always looking out for football writiers from every corner of the World, if you think you can write interesting original articles please contact:
editor @ aboutaball . co . uk (no spaces).

We look forward to hearing from you.

Other News Stories:

African Cup of Nations, Site News, World -

The African Cup of Nations is back on Aboutaball - your Number One source for news and views from Africa's premier competition

British -

Vieira over the hill?

African Cup of Nations, World -

Nigerian fans risk Nations Cup blackout

African Cup of Nations, Previews, Profiles, World -

African Cup of Nations 2010: Tunisia Team Guide

African Cup of Nations, Previews, Profiles, World -

African Cup of Nations 2010: Zambia Team Guide

African Cup of Nations, Previews, Profiles, World -

African Cup of Nations 2010: Gabon Team Guide

African Cup of Nations, Previews, Profiles, World -