As Nigeria prepares for the 2018 World Cup, we look at all-time Nigeria dream team of players to have featured at the Word Cup mundia.
There’s optimism around Gernot Rohr’s side as they approach the showpiece in Russia, but few would rank this side among the greatest Super Eagles teams to have competed at the Mundial.
Instead, they’re primed to follow in the footsteps of some of Nigeria’s great teams from yesteryear, and the eleven players who we’ve picked in our greatest Super Eagles World Cup XI.
Goalkeeper – Vincent Enyeama: Only three goalkeepers have seen action for Nigeria at the World Cup: Peter Rufai (1994, 1998), Ike Shorunmu (2002) and Enyeama (2002, 2010, 2014).
Were it not for a dispute with former coach Sunday Oliseh, Enyeama might have been heading to his fourth tournament.
Appearances aside, it is Enyeama’s spectacular displays at all three tournaments that stand him head and shoulders above his two predecessors.
Right-Back – Joseph Yobo: Yobo only played one World Cup as a right back, in 2002 where his marauding run and cross supplied the assist for Julius Aghahowa’s goal against Sweden.
However, this performance, and subsequent showings as a centre-back were enough for him to make the cut ahead of Austin Eguavoen and Chidi Odiah.
Left-Back – Michael Emenalo: Ben Iroha and Celestine Babayaro are contenders here, but the former only played one game at USA 94, and Cele’s time in 2002 was one of those largely forgettable performances in a poor overall tournament for Nigeria.
Emenalo, by contrast, was not one of the core members of the class of 94, but he stepped in for an injured Iroha and did an excellent job at left-back.
Centre-Back – Taribo West: How unforgettable, even iconic, is the image of that bloodied bandage circling Taribo’s head in Nigeria’s 2002 showing at Japan/Korea?
Rugged, relentless and tenacious, West defended in his own maverick but highly effective style and stands out as a fine defensive specimen.
Centre-Back – Uche Okechukwu; This one was between Chidi Nwanu and Okechukwu, and the Gentle Giant takes it with relative ease.
Nwanu held the fort in 1994 as a result of the waning powers of Stephen Keshi, but Okechukwu was the man who kept it all together, calmly, intelligently and decisively.
Midfield – Sunday Oliseh: Admittedly, Oliseh switched off to allow Roberto Baggio to drive home a goal that drove a nail through the hearts of millions of Nigerians in the quarter-final in 1994.
However, he more than made up for it with that spectacular effort against Andoni Zubizarreta and Spain in 1998, while he also showcased his excellent passing from deep during that tournament.
Midfield – Jay-Jay Okocha; ‘So good they named him twice’, but they could have named him four times and still have fallen short of capturing how good he was in 1998.
His magic lit up all of Nigeria’s World Cup games, but never more so than in France where he was the outstanding star in a team that collapsed when they had the potential and possible opportunity to have gone so far.
Right Wing – Finidi George: George and Amunike – on the other flank – are the reason this team has been set out in a 4-4-2 formation.
Finidi’s technical ability, his intelligence down that right channel and ability to put a football on a pin head – or anywhere else he pleased – were among the reasons why the Class of 94 were such a hard side to play against and so beautiful to watch.
He also supplied the cross for Nigeria’s first World Cup goal, and it’s a moment that could be watched – and appreciated – time and time again.
Left Wing – Emmanuel Amunike: While Finidi’s stock in trade on one side was speed and precision crossing, Amunike, on the other flank, was about cutting in, beating defenders and creating danger from absolutely nothing.
Forward – Daniel Amokachi: It’s hard to forget that stunner of a goal against Greece, and it’s what gives the Bull the edge over Nwankwo Kanu in a straight battle between the two.
Amokachi’s strength – and his two-goals showing in the USA – sees him make the cut, and was an effective partner for Rashidi Yekini.
Forward – Rashidi Yekini: Who else could complete our squad but the ‘goals-father’, scorer of Nigeria’s first World Cup goal and one of the deadliest forwards ever to bless the continent’s football fields.
He only scored that one goal in 1994, but in 1998, his game was much more improved and if that overhead kick had just gone in, things might have been very different for the Super Eagles.
SUBS: Ahmed Musa, Osaze Odemwingie, Chidi Odiah, Mutiu Adepoju, Nwankwo Kanu, Peter Rufai.
