Coach
Lars LAGERBACK
16.07.48
Coach since February 2010
In charge of Sweden at the last two World Cups and took his native country’s team to EURO-2008 as well, but resigned last after Sweden’s failure to qualify for the 2010 finals. He had originally been assistant to Tommy Soderberg and from 2000 co-coach of the team. He had an inconsequential coaching career and coach minor clubs before taking a job with the Swedish association in 1990. His appointed, at the age of 67, in Nigerian is his first overseas assignment
Goalkeepers
Dele AIYENUGBA
20.11.83
Bnei Yehuda (Isr)
8 caps (0 goals)
Helped Enyimba to win the African Champions League, where he won renown as a penalty saving expert, before moving to Israel in 2007 African Nations Cup squads but without playing. Played in the Europa League with his club earlier in the season.
Austin EJIDE
08.04.84
Hapoel Petach Tikva (Isr)
18 caps (0 goals)
Last played in a friendly in London against Ireland last year but remains the defacto backup, despite only two appearances this season for his new club in Israel. Played at Etoile Sahel in Tunisia and then three seasons in France with Bastia.
Vincent ENYEAMA
29.08.82
Hapoel Tel Aviv (Isr)
53 caps (0 goals)
Played at the World Cup in Japan in 2002 against England and chosen for four Nations Cup tournaments. Has spent five seasons in Israel after moving from Nigeria in 2005. Played in 10 of the 12 matches Nigeria went through unbeaten in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Defenders
Dele ADELAYE
25.12.88
Sparta Rotterdam (Hol)
5 caps (0 goals)
Graduated through the Under-20 team and Olympic side. Played at the 2005 World Youth Championship in Holland where he caught the eye of several clubs, eventually signing a year later for Sparta. Now in his fourth season in the Dutch league.
Rabiu AFOLABI
18.04.80
Salzburg (Aut)
14 caps (0 goals)
Central defender who has not played for Nigeria since early 2008. Very versatile and can play as a fullback or defensive midfielder as well. Dangerous on set pieces.
Elderson ECHIEJILE
20.01.88
Rennes (Fra)
10 caps (0 goals)
Moved to French club Rennes in 2007 from his first Nigerian club Bendel Insurance, having been spotted at the World Youth Cup in Canada. Made his debut against France in a friendly last year just after playing for his club in the French Cup Final.
Obinna NWANERI
18.02.82
Sion (Swi)
36 caps (1 goal)
Captain of the Enyimba side that won the African Champions League in 2003 and 2004 before moving to Esperance in Tunisia. Signed for Sion in 2006 but his contract runs out this summer. Has never been able to hold on a first-choice position in the since his international debut in 2004.
Chidi ODIAH
17.12.83
CSKA Moscow (Rus)
23 caps (1 goal)
Twice a champion in Russia with CSKA Moscow, having broken into a major European cub through the less trodden path of playing in Moldova. Wing-back who saw minimal action in the World Cup qualifiers but has played at the past two Nations Cups.
Danny SHITTU
02.09.80
Bolton Wanderers (Eng)
25 caps (0 goals)
Made his debut in a London friendly against Paraguay in 2002 but then did not play again for Nigeria until mid-2007. Born in Lagos but raised in England where he started his career at Charlton. Had his best spell with Watford before joining Bolton two years ago.
Taye TAIWO
16.04.85
Marseille (Fra)
40 caps (4 goals)
Left-back with a thunderous shot who can score from long-range free-kicks but is frustratingly mercurial in his performances. He was voted behind Lionel Messi and John Obi Mikel as the third best player at the 2005 World Youth Cup. Has competed at the last three African Nations Cups.
Joseph YOBO
06.09.80
Everton (Eng)
65 caps (3 goals)
Played two matches at the 2002 World Cup, against Sweden and England. Hails from Port Harcourt and is married to a beauty queen. Played at Standard Liege, Marseille and Tenerife before joining Everton in 2002. Has four bronze medals at the last five African Nations Cup finals but never got to the Final.
Midfielders
AYILA Yussuf
04.11.82
Dynamo Kyiv (Ukr)
24 caps (2 goals)
Unusually has played in the Ukraine for seven seasons now, having moved from Lagos to Kiev in 2003. Has tournament experience in the Nations Cup. Among a rich troop of defensive midfielders available for Nigeria, therefore not able to command a regular first team slot.
Dickson ETUHU
08.06.82
Fulham (Eng)
12 caps (0 goals)
Raised in England where he was first on the books at Manchester City and also played at Norwich, Preston and Sunderland before a £1.5million move to Fulham in mid-2008. Made his Nigeria debut in 2007 and has played at the last two Nations Cup tournaments.
Sani KAITA
02.05.86
Alania Vladikavhaz (Rus)
19 caps (0 goals)
Youth prodigy who has not make the same impact at senior level as he did running the midfield for Nigeria’s under-20 side.
Ideye BROWN
10.10.82
Sochaux (Fra)
0 caps (0 goals)
Late replacement for John Obi Mikel who was ruled out through injury. Picked ahead of the more experienced Uche, who had not recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury which kept him out for nearly seven months.
Kalu UCHE
15.11.82
Almeria (Spa)
20 caps (2 goals)
Started at Enyimba before heading to Poland, where he was a champion with Wisla Krakow. Then came a brief spell at Bordeaux in France soon after he scored for Nigeria in his international debut against Angola. Moved to Almeria in 2005.
John UTAKA
08.01.82
Portsmouth (Eng)
44 caps (5 goals)
Slump in club form matched his performances for Nigeria, who left him out of the last Nations Cup squad. A pacy winger who is utilised for the team’s counter attacking. He is the older brother of Peter Utaka, who plays for OB In Denmark.
Forwards
Nwankwo KANU
01.08.76
Portsmouth (Eng)
83 caps (13 goals)
Elder statesman of the squad who just missed out on a call-up to the 1994 World Cup but played at the 1998 and 2002 editions. Recently broke Nigeria’s international appearances record but his goal return has been poor. A past winner of the European Cup with Ajax.
Obafemi MARTINA
28.10.84
Wolfsburg (Ger)
31 caps (16 goals)
Has a great goal ratio for his country but never been able to have a consistent run in the team. He was spotted playing in the street by the brother of Sunday Oliseh and taken to Italy for trials, leading to a contract at Reggiana.
Chinedu OBASI
01.06.86
Hoffenheim (Ger)
12 caps (1 goal)
Made his senior debut at the same time as he made an impact with the Under-20 team at the World Youth Cup in Holland in 2005. A last-minute addition to the squad for the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola and played in every match, scoring his first international goal.
Victor OBINNA
25.03.87
Malaga (Spa)
30 caps (8 goals)
Made his debut at the 2006 African Nations Cup finals and played and scored in two subsequent tournaments. Moved from African champions Enyimba to Chievo in 2005. Now on loan in Spain from Internazionale.
Peter ODEMWINGIE
15.07.81
Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus)
47 caps (8 goals)
A mainstay in the qualifying campaign with four successive African Nations Cup finals appearances under his belt. Born In Tashkent to a Russian mother and Nigerian father and been back in Russia since 2007. Played previously in Romania, Belgium and France.
AKUBU Aiyegbeni
22.11.82
Everton (Eng)
48 caps (19 goals)
The timelines of his career achievement do not tally with his claimed date of birth. He went to Gil Vicente allegedly aged 16 and played in first international supposedly aged 17. But even if he is much older than claimed, there is no doubting his scoring acumen.
