World Cup Team Guide: Nigeria

Group B / Dave Farrar / 13 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Quick, powerful and a fine finisher. But which Yakubu will turn up at the World Cup?

A team which boasts such talents as Obafemi Martins, Yakubu and Jon Obi Mikel can never be written off completely but Nigeria appear to be a side in permananent turmoil both on and off the pitch and they could struggle to get out of a very tough group...

"The great sadness of Nigerian football is that, when they got it right, they were one of the most thrilling sights in sport. The team that shocked the world in Atlanta, the group of players that provided the platform for Sunday Oliseh’s wonder goal – that style and verve seems like a distant memory, and what makes the whole thing sadder is that there is still so much talent there."

Yet again Nigeria approach a major tournament in a chaotic state of mind, and yet again that curious mixture of self interest, politics, laziness and an entirely over-expectant football public have created a crazy cocktail.

The Super Eagles (which is rapidly becoming as inappropriate a title as Ladies Day at Royal Ascot) only just made it through to the tournament, thanks to a dramatic conclusion to qualifying, and since then, they have turned in an awful performance in the Africa Cup of Nations and sacked their coach.

The great sadness of Nigerian football is that, when they got it right, they were one of the most thrilling sights in sport. The team that shocked the world in Atlanta, the group of players that provided the platform for Sunday Oliseh's wonder goal - that style and verve seems like a distant memory, and what makes the whole thing sadder is that there is still so much talent there.

And it's not a case of Nigeria needing a coach to" free them up", to allow them to play, that's just talking head nonsense. What they need is a public and a media who allows them to play gloriously, and to fail gloriously. Stop producing newspaper articles claiming that the Super Eagles will win the World Cup, stop threatening to burn down people's houses after one mistake in a game, and start supporting them. If the likes of Obafemi Martins and Peter Odemwingie, even Kanu and John Utaka, play with hope and not fear, then they can do great things. But we all know that, like the Dutch, Nigeria will underperform here. It's what they do. And they are an outstanding bet to fail to get through a tricky looking group.

COACH: Lars Lagerback

I'm still faintly disturbed by the part that Lagerback played in one of the weirdest double acts in recent football history, when he was joint coach of Sweden alongside Tommy Soderberg. At times, they both behaved as if they were the boss, and at other times, they acted like each other's assistant, like Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, only a bit more camp.

Lagerback is all on his own as he becomes the 23rd overseas coach to take on the laburnum encrusted chalice of Nigerian football. He's easy going and low profile, which is good, and is a good technical coach, which will help the younger Nigerian players. How he deals with some of the worst attitudes and biggest egos in the football world will define his success or otherwise.

Key Players

Yakubu

I'm convinced that Yakubu is a world class centre forward, and am certain that Nigeria need the slightly slimmed down, highly motivated version to turn up in South Africa if they're to have any chance. He does things for Everton that are stunning. Magnificent first touches, intelligent assists, viciously good finishes, but along with those come games in which he doesn't seem bothered. The brilliant Yakubu could finish top scorer in the tournament, the one who can resemble a competitive dad playing five a side could be sent home in disgrace after one game.

Joseph Yobo

The second Evertonian in the Nigeria squad has been one of his country's most consistent players in recent years. For all of the problems they have in channelling their flair, Nigeria aren't a bad defensive unit, and Yobo is the chief organiser. They conceded only four goals in their six qualifying games, and given that the goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama can be shaky on occasion, that's testament to just how well Yobo has sorted things out in front of him.

Taye Taiwo

Taiwo should at least be one Nigerian player who goes to South Africa with some confidence, given how well his club side Marseille have been playing in Ligue 1. The left back played in all but one of the qualifying games, and he gives the side power and a proper attacking threat on his side of the pitch. It'll be worth looking to see if anyone lays too big a price on him to score in games, as he has a powerful and accurate shot.

Recommended Bet: Lay Nigeria to Qualify @ [2.1]

Tags: John Utaka, Kanu, Lars Lagerback, Nigeria football team, Nigeria players, Nigeria world Cup fixtures, Yakubu