Nigeria, Keshi and his Super Eagles

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: Nigeria

Steven Keshi finally will get the chance he so richly deserves, in leading out his nation as manager of the Super eagles at the World Cup. He was sacked as manger of Togo just before the 2006 World cup, and in 2002 was also given the boot as assistant manger of Nigeria. He has brought Nigeria back for another world cup, and has molded a very tight confident team.

On paper the squad looks a bit light, but it’s a squad that has years of experience in the big leagues across Europe. Shola Ameobi has starred regularly for Newcastle in the EPL, Ogenyi Onazi at 21 is an emerging talent with Lazio and Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé has had a decent year with Monaco in Ligue 1.

John Obi Mikel, of Chelsea, for me is the heart of this team. If he can get the ball moving along and the strikers supplied, then Nigeria have a real chance of making the second round.

Another player I will be keeping on eye out is Celtic’s Efe Ambrose. He goes about his game very quietly, but is very effective in what he does. He is very solid at the back, and rarely makes errors of judgment. Will be interesting to see how he gets on against Argentina and Bosnia, teams with a little better bite than say Kilmarnock or St Mirren.

Group F is manageable. I don’t think they will beat Argentina, but playing Iran first up gives Nigeria a huge advantage. Score well against Iran and then play Bosnia in the second game, where a win would guarantee them the second round. All done and dusted before they even meet Argentina. One game, against Bosnia, is their world cup. I feel they can beat Bosnia. It will be close but its not beyond the team.

After that in the second round it would be either France of Switzerland. I don’t see them getting past both teams, so its the second round only for Nigeria.