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

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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

Nigeria matches schedule

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

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