Manager: Stephen Keshi
Best finish: Second round (1994, 1998)
World Cup record: Played 17, Won 5, Drawn 3, Lost 9
History
They first qualified for the World Cup finals in 1994, and made a heckuva an impact, topping their group on goal difference from Bulgaria and Argentina. And they almost upset Italy in the knockout phase, leading with minutes to go before Roberto Baggio equalised, and then got the winner from a penalty in extra-time. They topped their group again in '98 before going out to Denmark. In 2002 and 2010 they failed to get out of their group.
Whiteboard
Google "Stephen Keshi, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1" and you'll stumble upon impassioned debates among Nigeria supporters about what formation the manager should use in Brazil, Keshi mainly employing the former for the team's Africa Cup of Nations triumph last year, but experimenting with the latter in the build-up to Brazil.
All Star – Emmanuel Emenike
Averaging a goal every two games for his country, there'll be high expectations for Fenerbahce's Emmanuel Emenike in Brazil – as there will for Victor Moses and John Mikel Obi, bit part players at Liverpool and Chelsea respectively, this season, but key for their country and shortlisted for last year's African Footballer of the Year award.
County Colours – Fermanagh
Sure aren’t the Eagles famous for their glas and bán geansaís?
Pundit's Corner – Jamie Redknapp: "Such talent with this lot. If a good manager got his 'ands on 'em . . . say, my Dad for instance."
Prospects
Since taking over in 2011 , Keshi has brought in new blood and ruffled a few of the squad's bigger egos. After a first Africa Cup of Nations win since 1994, they topped their qualifying group and beat Ethiopia in the play-offs, but goals are hard to come by so it could be a brief enough stay in Brazil, given Group F rivals Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina have them in abundance. Iran, not so much.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: 1 Vincent Enyeama (Lille/Fra), 16 Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva /Isr), 21 Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).
Defenders: 2 Joseph Yobo (Norwich City/Eng), 5 Efe Ambrose (Celtic/Sco), 6 Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), 12 Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars), 13 Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC/Isr), 14 Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor/Tur), 22 Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough/Eng).
Midfielders: 3 Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), 4 Gabriel Reuben (Beveren/Bel), 10 John Obi Mikel (Chelsea/Eng), 15 Ramon Azeez (Almeria/Esp), 17 Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio/Ita),
Forwards: 7 Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow/Rus), 8 Peter Odemwingie (Stoke City/Eng), 9 Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce/Tur), 11 Victor Moses (Chelsea/Eng), 18 Michael Babatunde (Volyn/Ukr), 19 Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen/Ned), 20 Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge/Bel), 23 Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United/Eng).
TEAM LINE-UPS
NIGERIA (v Iran): 1 Vincent Enyeama; 5 Efe Ambrose, 14 Godfrey Oboabona (2 Joseph Yobo, 29 mins), 22 Kenneth Omeruo, 13 Juwon Oshaniwa; 17 Ogenyi Onazi, 10 John Obi Mikel, 15 Ramon Azeez (8 Peter Odemwingie, 69 mins); 11 Victor Moses (23 Shola Ameobi, 52 mins), 9 Emmanuel Emenike, 7 Ahmed Musa.
NIGERIA (v Bosnia & Herzegovina): 1 Vincent Enyeama; 5 Efe Ambrose, 2 Joseph Yobo, 22 Kenneth Omeruo, 13 Juwon Oshaniwa; 8 Peter Odemwingie, 17 Ogenyi Onazi, 10 John Obi Mikel (yc); 18 Michael Babatunde (3 Ejike Uzoenyi, 75 mins), 7 Ahmed Musa (23 Shola Ameobi, 65 mins); 9 Emmanuel Emenike.
NIGERIA (v Argentina): 1 Vincent Enyeama; 5 Efe Ambrose, 2 Joseph Yobo, 22 Kenneth Omeruo (yc), 13 Juwon Oshaniwa (yc); 17 Ogenyi Onazi, 10 John Obi Mikel; 8 Peter Odemwingie (19 Uche Nwofor, 80 mins), 18 Michael Babatunde (20 Michael Uchebo, 66 mins), 7 Ahmed Musa; 9 Emmanuel Emenike.
Those on one yellow card are: John Obi Mikel, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa.
NIGERIA (v France): 1-Vincent Enyeama; 5-Efe Ambrose, 13-Juwon Oshaniwa, 22-Kenneth Omeruo, 2-Joseph Yobo; 10-John Obi Mikel, 17-Ogenyi Onazi (Gabriel 59'), 7-Ahmed Musa, 11-Victor Moses (Nwofor 89'); 8-Peter Odemwingie, 9-Emmanuel Emenike
