Nigeria

The Super Eagles are returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2002, having squeezed through qualification with a late 3-2 victory over Kenya in Nairobi, thanks to Obafemi Martins.

Form hasn't been too bad since either, as Nigeria negotiated their way to third place in the last Nations Cup in Angola last January. Such resultsarent good enough however, and Shaibu Amodu was quickly discarded.

Every four years, the Africans either flatter to decieve or enlighten the tournement. Impressive performances in 1994 and 1998 were followed by underachievement in Japan and failure to qualify for the 2006 installment. Performances more akin to the latter are unfortunately expected this summer.

This isn't helped by the fact that their coach is Lars Lagerback, who Swedish fans were happy to see the back of after nine long years. His appointment is in keeping with a current trend of African associations hiring European coaches. Sven Goran Eriksson is being paid a fortune to coach Ivory Coast for only a handful of games, while Paul Le Guen is currently in charge of Cameroon.

Lagerback is not exactly the type of manager to unleash his players and let them play to their talents. Planning will be meticulous but that it not the Nigerian way.

Another factor than inhibits the performance of players is their age. The true ages of many Nigerian internationals in unknown. Portsmouth's Nwanko Kanu has played in Europe since 1993, after an impressive display in that years Under-17 World Cup, where Nigeria are constant competitors, despite never really challenging at senior level. Joseph Yobo and Martins are two other with bizarre track records. Yobo is 29 and yet has also spent 12 years in Europe and eight with Everton. Martins was a 'teenage' prodigy at Inter Milan just seven years ago, and has since gone on to inonymity at Newcastle and now Wolfsburg. His career path is more reflective of an older man.

SCHEDULE- Group B

Argentina             June 12th- Johannesburg

Greece                June 17nd- Bloemfontein

Korea Republic   June 22nd- Durban

The group handed to Nigeria will bring optimism to the squad. A pre- tournament friendly with North Korea should give them a good gauge of their Asian opponents from the south, and Greece are by no means the strongest European team they could have been paired with. 

That said, their first fixture is a repeat of their 2002 opener in Japan, which they lost 1-0 to a Gabriel Batistuta header. A first game defeat to Argentina could leave the Super Eagles facing an uphill battle if Greece manage to take three points of South Korea. 

Expectations are high, as always, in Lagos, and Lagerback has been drafted in on a five month contract with the sole purpose of getting the Nigerians past the group stage and ultimately to the semi-finals, which will be a first for an African team.

KEY PLAYERS

Without John Obi Mikel, Nigeria would be a lost cause in South Africa, but the Chelsea midfielder is expected to recover in time for opening night. Mikel players in a far more advanced role for his country traditionally but Lagerback's presence may see him return to a more destructive role in front of a back four.

Mikel may be the one star of the squad, but there is an abundance of European experience throughout, although many are coming to the end of their careers, are under performing, or are playing away from the limelight.

Taye Taiwo and Yobo are long term mainstays of the defence, despite being still in their twenties. Danny Shittu is still considered a serious replacement if Yobo is injured, which sums up the strenght of  Nigeria's defensive options.

In attack is where Nigeria are at their strongest, yet the 154 million back home must still pine for the days of Daniel Amokachi, Jay Jay Okocha, a younger Kanu and Rashidi Yekini. This years generation of  Martins, Aiyigbeni Yakubu and Peter Odemwingie all have impressive goal scoring records in their own right, but impressive national team performances have been sporadic.

Odemwingie captained the side in the recent Nations Cup, but it is yet to be seen whether he will retain the armband, or even be in the first XI come June 12th in Ellis Park. 

ONE TO WATCH- John Obi Mikel

The Chelsea defensive midfielder may come in to his own this summer. He is capable of magic that Chelsea fans rarely see, and possesses greater talent than just getting yellow cards.

BEST CASE SCENARIO...

It would be a miracle if the Super Eagles make that semi final spot. Their is no limit to their ambition, and with the population they have and their history and reputation as a football nation, they should be capable of challenging every four years.

WORST CASE SCENARIO...

In- fighting, squabbles over bonuses and a corrupt association often undermine Nigeria's efforts on the pitch. This year is might be their tactics. A rigid defensive approach wont be in the spirit of their country and if the flair of 1994 and 1998's win over Spain are not reproduced, another awful World Cup is in store for the Super Eagles.

PREDICTION

It will be a struggle to emerge from the group. Ultimately the superior organisation, natural tactical abilities and dare I say better players, of Greece, should see them prevail rather than Nigeria. It will be a case of another opportunity lost.