NIGERIA’S 23 GLADIATORS TO BRAZIL- THE APPRAISAL.

The deadline set by FIFA for all teams participating at the 2014 FIFA World in Brazil was June 2. Nigeria like the rest of the participating countries duly complied with this directive and submitted its team list before the midnight of June 2.
Nigeria will be making its 5th appearance at the mundial in Brazil. Before the release of the 23-man gladiators to Brazil, many football aficionados, pundits, analysts and fans have been guessing on who will make it to Brazil and those who wouldn’t. The projection was that the team to Brazil will comprise nothing short of 90% of the African Cup of Nations triumphant team members but this was quickly rubbished when Coach Stephen Keshi first released the 30-man provisional team with the exclusion of some notable names.
There was palpitation and tension in the air before the release of the team list few minutes to midnight on June 2. Nigeria as it did going to the AFCON in South Africa will be going to Brazil with 19 debutants while the experienced names such as Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Joseph Yobo and Elderson Echiejile who were part of the squad to South Africa 2010 made the final list and will look to make amends for their group stage exit in their last outing.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille/France), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva /Isreal)
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco/France), Efe Ambrose (Celtic/Scotland), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor/Turkey), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough/England), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC/Isreal), Joseph Yobo (Norwich City/England), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars)
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/England), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio/Italy), Gabriel Reuben (Beveren/Belgium), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge/Belgium), Ramon Azeez (Almeria/Spain)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow/Russia), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United/England), Victor Moses (Chelsea/England), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce/Turkey), Peter Odemwingie, (Stoke City/England), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen/Netherlands), Babatunde Michael (Volyn/Ukraine)
The biggest casualty is Sunday Mba, who helped secure a third CAF Africa Cup of Nations last year, has failed to make the cut for Nigeria’s final squad for the FIFA World Cup. Mba, who scored the winning goal in the 2013 Nations Cup final against Burkina Faso, was late in joining the Super Eagles’ training squad in London last week because of a visa hitch. The six other players who will not be on the flight to Brazil next week are Joel Obi (Inter Milan), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis), Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan), Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves)and Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers).
The inclusion of players like Shola Ameobi who scored a meager 2 scores all season for Newcastle and Babatunde Michael who has scored just 3 goals in Ukraine since 2011 raised many questions. The team is deficient of a set pace taker in the mould of Okocha and we don’t have a striker will the killer instinct, flair and 18-yard craft in the class of Messi, Suarez or Ronaldo.
Football is a team sport, if the Super Eagles play as a unit and defend in numbers perhaps it might go far in Brazil. The Ronaldos and the Messis of this world surely needs the support of their teammate to gel and excel but at time brilliant and exceptional player might be the different between success and failure. Keshi’s team is devoid of an exceptional player, our success in Brazil can only come from compactness and judicious utilization of few opportunities that comes our way. Nigeria is drawn in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina and Iran. They kick off their campaign on 16 June against Iran.