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BBC GUIDE TO ALL TEAMS
CAN 2008 Preview - Nigeria Goal.com looks at the Super Eagles' prospects of Cup of African Nations successes...
If the FIFA rankings are to be believed, Nigeria are the strongest team
in Africa. Currently ranked 19th in the listing made by FIFA, 6 places
ahead of Cameroon on the global list, 19 ahead of the Ivory Coast and a
full 24 in front of the hosts Ghana, Nigeria therefore should be
considered as red hot favourites for the forthcoming African Cup of
Nations.
But whilst the squad is packed full of quality players, including
several potent strikers, the balance of the side doesn't look quite
right. For that reason Nigeria haven’t exactly been placed in the
category of tournament favourites in the way that the Ivory Coast,
Ghana or Cameroon have.
Nigeria have recorded the highest position in African largely
thanks to their consistent performances in recent editions of the
tournament, recording three third place finishes in the last three
African Cups. However, football doesn't recognise bronze medals -
except in the theoretical world of FIFA rankings - and the truth is
that over the past 15 seasons since Nigeria started this golden
generation the trend has been largely downwards.
Nigeria burst onto the scene in 1994 when they qualified for their
first ever World Cup in America, reaching the second round before going
out to eventual winners Italy. Then, they subsequently won the Olympic
Gold in Atlanta two years later. 1994 also saw Nigeria win their last
African Cup of Nations, but tournaments after that were ruined after
Nigeria withdrew in 1996 and disqualified from the 1998 tournament as a
result.
Nigeria, then, had never quite been able to take the final step and
fulfil Pele's prediction that an African team would win the World Cup
before the turn of the century. The World Cup in 1998 saw them qualify
again from the group stages, going out again in the second round to
Denmark, whilst the 2000 edition of the African Cup of Nations saw them
finish as runners-up despite enjoying home advantage.
The World Cup in 2002 was a disappointing affair after they were placed
into the Group of Death along with England, Sweden and Argentina.
Indeed, they exited at the first round stage with only 1 point from
their three games. Since then Nigeria have always been in the
semi-final stages of the African Cup but have never quite had enough to
make the final, losing to eventual winners in both 2002 and 2004,
Cameroon and Tunisia respectively, and to the Ivory Coast in 2006.
Under Berti Vogts. Nigeria comfortably qualified for the
tournament. finishing top of Group 3 amassing 15 points from their 6
games, their only loss coming away to Uganda in June. Friendly results
have been acceptable but nothing to write home about. beating Sudan 2-0
but losing recently to Switzerland and Australia.
[NVS Note: This is an error - Nigeria defeated Switzerland 1-0 in Zurich]
The question is for this generation, can they bestow themselves
with an international title? The team is largely composed of players
based in Europe and there isn't one locally based player in the squad.
Teams under Berti Vogts have always had a reputation of being
defensively solid with not too much going forward, but that accusation
can't be levelled at Vogts this time after he called up 8 out-and-out
strikers into his selection. Whether this is just because there is a
lack of Nigerian talent in defence and midfield or because he genuinely
believes attack is the best way is open to debate but ,inadvertently or
otherwise, Nigeria are going to be obliged to press forward.
Although Vogts played 4-4-2 when in charge of Scotland during a
disappointing spell the sheer number of strikers and central
midfielders along with an almost total absence of wingers suggests that
Vogts is contemplating a 4-3-3 formation with Kanu as a spearhead.
In goal Vincent Enyeama will be probable first choice. He has 35
caps and is currently with Hapoel Tel Aviv having recently earned
himself a lucrative transfer to one of Israel's top clubs after an
excellent spell with Bnei Yehuda. Enyeama helped his Nigerian club side
Eniyamba to successive African Champions League victories in 2003 and
2004 and was also back-up for the World Cup in 2002. Following in
Enyeama's footsteps at Bnei Yehuda is back-up Dele Aiyenugba. Third
choice will be Bastia based Austin Ejide, who with 12 caps, is also an
experienced keeper despite being only 23 years old.
Defensively the best known player is former Marseille and current
Everton centre back Joseph Yobo. A formidable defender, Yobo has become
a first choice at Goodison Park after his arrival maturing into a solid
player as well as a potent threat at set pieces thanks to his ability
in the air. The centre-back place alongside Yobo is still up for grabs
with OGC Nice defender Onyekachi Apam leading the way. Apam is first
choice for his club Nice and is a near-ever present for the side
currently occupying a solid 5th place in Ligue 1.
Another possibility is Watford centre-back Danny Shittu, who has
been in fine fettle this season helping his side to the top of the
table in the Championship as they look to bounce back to the
Premiership at the first attempt. Shittu has only 3 caps but at the age
of 27 has the chance to stake a first team spot for his adopted
country. Finally Vogts may consider the Steaua Bucharest and former
Partizan Belgrade defender Ifeyani Emeghara, who at 23 will also see
this as a chance to state his claims alongside Yobo.
Left back duties will be taken care of by the exciting Taye Taiwo.
A through back to some of the more exuberant African defenders of
recent years Taiwo loves to bomb forward and is sometimes caught
upfield if the opposition attack down the right wing. Taiwo also
fancies himself as a Roberto Carlos clone with his free-kicks, and
although he generates plenty of power with his cannonball shots they
are seldom in danger of troubling the opposition goalkeeper!
On the right side of defence, the highly rated Rabiu Afolabi,
currently with French side Sochaux, should be first choice. Afolabi
helped his side win the French Cup last season and is being followed by
a number of Europe's top clubs.
The midfield players called up are predominantly central ones with
Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel the best known. Mikel has claimed a
regular first team spot this season at Stamford Bridge after arriving
in controversial circumstances from Norwegian side Lyn Oslo, with
Manchester United claiming he had also signed for them. Eventually
Mikel was allowed to join Chelsea and he has developed into a hugely
promising player during his spell in West London.
He will be joined by Sunderland based Dickson Etuhu, who has 14
appearances for Roy Keane’s side under his belt after joining in the
summer from Norwich. Etuhu started his career with Manchester City and
was also with Preston North End, playing the majority of his football
in the Championship. Although Sunderland find themselves in some
relegation trouble, Etuhu has looked a decent player helping out
defensively as well as getting forward to good effect.
Seyi Olofinjana also came to England via Norwegian football, joining
Wolverhampton Wanderers from Brann after turning down an offer to join
Monaco. Olofinjana, like Etuhu, is a true box to box midfielder and
will be seen at both ends of the pitch.
Other midfield options include the controversial figure of Onyekachi
Okonkwo, currently with Swiss side FC Zurich. Okonkwo is another of the
Eniyamba players who broke through in the wake of their successive
victories in the African Champions League, firstly joining South
African side Orlando Pirates. An unsettled two year spell there was
blighted with several sendings-off: one time in the wake of a red card
in the South African Super Cup, he had threatened to kill the referee,
who had sent him from the field.
His arrival in Europe was also troubled after he left German team 1. FC
Koln after just 1 week, claiming he was there for no more than a 7 day
trial while the club insisted he had signed a 4 year deal. The matter
was eventually resolved, and Okonkwo appears to have settled down for
the time being in Switzerland.
Up front Nigeria are blessed with some excellent options, who are both
good in the air and quick. Berti Vogts will have his hands full getting
the best out of the diverse range of forwards available to him.
Now 31, Kanu may view this tournament as his last chance to win a
notable prize with his country - the Olympics in 1996 excepted - and
his presence will be key. More than just an excellent target man, Kanu
loves the ball to his feet and his thoughtful use of the ball ensures
that his fellow strikers are also brought into play. Accustomed to play
as the central forward with two beside him at Portsmouth, he will most
likely have the same role assigned to him in Ghana.
Through the centre Nigeria could also call up Yakubu and Stephen
Makinwa. Both are less mobile than Kanu but possess more of a physical
presence. Yakubu should be well known to English fans after spells with
Portsmouth and Middlesbrough and now with Everton since his £11 move in
the summer. The terrace chant goes “feed the Yak, and he will score”
and this is certainly true in the green of Nigeria, with 14 goals in 32
caps, including 3 in qualifying.
Makinwa isn’t first choice at his club side Lazio but may get more of a
look in if Goran Pandev moves to Bayern in the winter transfer window.
Makinwa also managed to grab a goal during qualifying getting on the
score sheet in the 2-0 win against Lesotho.
The fourth central option is Getafe-based Ikechukwu Uche, who joined
Michael Laudruss’ team in the summer after an excellent spell with
Recreativo Huela. Scoring 21 goals in 73 league games Uche showed his
finishing ability but has found the going harder since arriving in
Madrid for Getafe, managing only 1 Liga goal this season so far in an
injury-hit campaign.
Kanu’s striking colleague at club level, John Utaka, may get the nod
from the left side. Utaka has enjoyed an outstanding 6 months with
Portsmouth after arriving from French football, where he failed to
justify a £6 million transfer fee splashed out on him by Rennes.
Another left sided option is Peter Odemwinge, currently with Lokomotiv
Moscow. The former Lille striker has only hit the back of the net 4
times in his 14 games for the Russian team, but banged in 23 in 75 for
his former French side Lille after coming to them from Belgian
football. Both Utaka and Odemwingwe are lightning fast, but the latter
may just get the nod as he can play as a left winger as well as a
striker.
On the right, Vogts could opt for Obafemi Martins also based in England
with Newcastle since his £9.5 million transfer in the summer of 2006
from Inter Milan. Martins hasn’t enjoyed playing as a right sided
forward with Newcastle this season looking occasionally disinterested.
Nevertheless his record of 13 goals in 19 caps speaks for itself. With
Kanu a more mobile striker than Mark Viduka, his club team-mate,
Martins may find there is greater scope for drifting into the middle,
thus being more effective.
Victor Obinna is the final striking option and could be used if Martins
fails to sparkle on the right side. Currently plying his trade in Serie
B with Chievo, Obinna has been linked with a move to Manchester United,
so this tournament could represent an excellent chance for the 21 year
old to further his reputation.
If Vogts can get the best out of the talented strikers at his disposal,
Nigeria may yet taste glory. However, striking the balance between
attack and defence will be a tricky path for Vogts to navigate.
Eschewing wingers altogether could be a risky tactic as this will
encourage Taiwo and Afolabi forward ,potentially leaving Nigeria
exposed to quick counter attacks.
Nigeria will have to be on their mettle right from the outset as they
have been drawn into a tough looking Group B along with Benin, Mali and
the Ivory Coast. Both Mali and the Ivory Coast have sufficient
attacking resources to potentially ruffle Nigeria’s defence, and the
match between Nigeria and Mali will go a long way to determining who
will progress from the Group Stages.
With so many attacking players in the team Nigeria will have to retain
possession for lengthy periods if they are to prevent the like of Fredi
Kanoute and Didier Drogba causing them problems so there will be
pressure both on Kanu as targetman and the midfield to supply him with
balls he can get onto.
Main man – Kanu: if possession is going to be key to Nigeria’s success
then Kanu will have to play a key role in holding the ball up in the
final third and setting up attacks
Prediction: quarter finalists but equally could end up winners if the attack fires
Walter Townsend
Culled from Goal.com
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Posted by Robot| 18.01.2008 08:25