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Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa (R) and Sunday Mba (L) celebrate after Musa scored to make it 1-0 during their 2014 World Cup Qualifying match against Kenya
Introduction
The dress rehearsal competition for the World Cup 2014 – the Confederations Cup – will begin on 15th June. The competition has not been a happy hunting ground for African nations but the exploits of Cameroon in 2003 would continue to be an inspiration for Nigeria as they travel to Brazil to represent their continent. Nigeria qualified for the Confederations Cup as the winners of the African Cup of Nations, where they sprung up a surprise by defeating the heavily-favoured Ivory Coast side in the quarter finals. Nigeria have qualified for the competition once before, in 1995, when they lost out to Mexico in a third place match.
Group: Tahiti, Spain, Uruguay, Nigeria
They will have to come up with their best football as they take on Tahiti, Spain and Uruguay in the group stage of the competition. Spain are looking to add to their cabinet of trophies and Del Bosque will take a strong squad to the competition, whereas Uruguay have emerged as a great force in FIFA competitions. Though the two teams will remain favorites to move onto the knockout stages of the competition, Nigeria will try to spring a rude surprise.
The Boss
Coach Stephen Keshi answered his critics as he took a relatively young side to victory in the African Cup of nations. The team selection for that tournament had raised protests from critics within Nigeria, and Keshi has sprung up a few surprises this time as well. The boss has made 9 changes to the side that won the African Cup in January. They had two key players unavailable due to injury to Chelsea‘s Victor Moses and the highest goal-scorer at the Cup of Nations, Emmanuel Emenike. Their absence is likely to be missed but perhaps the coach has added to his own miseries by leaving out the likes of Joseph Yobo, Peter Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins.
Team Preview
The new look Nigerian team includes six new players: midfielders John Ogu and Emeka Eze, and forwards, Joseph Akpala, Michael Babatunde, Mohammed Gambo and Anthony Ujah. Odumadi returns after injuries had earlier delayed his debut in the team. The new look team put up a brave front against 2013 Confederation Cup finalists Mexico in a keenly contested match that ended 2-2. The manager looked confident after the game and expressed hope that they would do the continent proud, come the Confederations Cup. He said, “We showed some good stuff against Mexico despite missing a number of players and we will even be stronger subsequently.”
There is a sense in the media in Nigeria that the management of Nigerian football have been out of touch with the development of their players playing in various leagues across the world, and though the trust in home-grown talent is a commendable quality in itself, superior talent cannot be ignored. Anthony Ujah has been included in the side a long time after he deserved it and, ironically, he happens to be out of sorts at the moment. Imoh Ezekiel was ignored whereas out-of-form Joseph Akpala has found a place in the side. Oboabona and Mba are two home-grown players who have had a considerable impact on the fortunes of the side and will be key as they take on Tahiti on 17th June.
Tactically, Nigeria will try to emulate their success at the African Cup of Nations but they have been exposed in some recent contests against aforementioned Mexico and by a rather mediocre Kenya side. There’s a marked lack of organization while the team is out of possession, whereas the wide positions are defensively weak. Individual players suffer from inconsistent performances and skill flaws; for instance, Oboabona’s lack of positional awareness. The midfield is heavily dependent on the performance of Mikel Obi and he does not seem to have enough quality around him. The long standing traditional habit of trying long balls continues to plague the African side.
Inspite of the wholesale changes introduced by Keshi, the team will have some experience from the memorable African Cup Nations side. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama will be a pillar of strength and will organize his defence. Sunday Mba, young defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona, and Ogenyi Onazi will be a part of the playing XI in all probability. They have a key player in Ahmed Musa who knows cup competitions, having won the cup double in Russia with CSKA Moscow but his form has been inconsistent of late. It remains to be seen if he turns up at Brazil.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Beer Sheva), Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Defenders: Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC), Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Solomon Kwambe, Godfrey Oboabona (both Sunshine Stars), Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag)
Midfielders: Emeka Eze (Enugu Rangers), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Fegor Ogude (Valerenga), John Ogu (Academica Coimbra), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers)
Forwards: Joseph Akpala (Werder Bremen), Michael Babatunde (FC Kryvbas), Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars), Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kiev), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese), Anthony Ujah (FC Cologne)
Prediction
Should finish 3rd in the group table but they have virtually no chance against Spain and Uruguay.
