Read on to know all about the Nigerian football squad/team for the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Nigeria Team for 2010 World Cup

The Nigerians, not so long ago were seen as a rare breed and an African nation that could actually be one of the last four teams in the FIFA World Cup 2010. Sadly however, that now is nothing but wishful thinking. The Nigerian team for the FIFA World Cup 2010 found themselves working hard to scrape up just one point from their last matches in the finals. The team possesses a fair share of talent and on a fair-weather day can topple over even the best team in the competition, but this is only on paper, the turn of events depends on the players really.
 
The trek to the South Africa for the Nigerians was a bizarre and arduous one; their first match in the final round of the CAF qualifying against Mozambique decayed into a goalless draw. This draw made the journey a lot more demanding, the Nigerians were literally chasing a well ahead Tunisia and successive draws against the Carthage Eagles didn’t really lend a helping hand. It looked like the Nigerians were at the threshold of a desert of eternal defeat, but as luck would have it Tunisia lost in Mozambique. The Nigerian seized the opportunity and managed to squeeze out a 3-2 win in Kenya. This win helped the Nigerians book an assured berth for themselves in the FIFA World Cup 2010.

The Nigerian team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is fronted by former Swedish boss Lars Lagerback. Lagerback replaces Shaibu Amodu, the former coach of Nigeria’s national football team. Shaibu Amodu was sent packing despite Nigeria’s third place finish in the 2010 CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The 61-year-old Lars and the fans of ‘Team Nigeria’ will expect a lot from productive players Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Peter Odemwingie and Martins. The experience in the team is supplemented with two talented and young players who go by the names Victor Obinna and Ikechukwu Uche. The Super Eagles also have a daunting Jon Obi Mikel to patrol the midfield and a determined and resolute Captain to play ‘wall’ in the centre of defence.

Quoting the words of the Nigerian forward Chinedu Obasi in a way will help sum up what is running through the minds of the Nigerians as they look to realize dreams in South Africa - "We know that we will have a tough job at the World Cup. We are up against some tough teams like Argentina, with top players like Lionel Messi. It's important for us to prove that we can play our own game against the best."
Nigerian Football Team for FIFA World Cup 2010

The Pre-World Cup list of players for Nigeria is given below
Players
Positions
Vincent Enyeama
Goalkeeper
Austin Ejide
Goalkeeper
Dele Aiyenugba
Goalkeeper
Bassey Akpan
Goalkeeper
Joseph Yobo
Centre back
Taye Taiwo
Left back
Danny Shittu
Centre back
Chidi Odiah
Wingback
Rabiu Afolabi
Defender
Onyekachi Apam
Defender
Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé
Left back
Dele Adeleye
Defender
Terna Suswam
Defender
Mikel John Obi
Midfielder
Ayila Yussuf
Defensive midfielder
Kalu Uche
Forward / Midfielder
Sani Kaita
Defensive midfielder
Dickson Etuhu
Defensive midfielder
Lukman Haruna
Midfielder
Nwankwo Kanu
Forward (Captain)
Yakubu Aiyegbeni
Striker
Peter Odemwingie
Striker, Winger
John Utaka
Winger, Forward
Victor Obinna
Winger
Obafemi Martins
Striker
Ikechukwu Uche
Striker
Chinedu Obasi
Forward
Victor Anichebe
Striker, Right winger, Attacking midfielder
Peter Utaka
Forward
Ideye Brown
Forward


Date - Time Venue
Detail
Results
12-June 15:00 Johannesburg - JEP Argentina Argentina vs Nigeria Nigeria Argentina won by 1-0
17-June 15:00 Mangaung / Bloemfontein Greece Greece vs Nigeria Nigeria Greece won by 2-1
22-June 19:30 Durban Nigeria Nigeria vs Korea Republic Korea Republic Draw 2-2


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