12-Austin Ejide (Gabros) Born: 8.4.84
Goalkeepers
Made his debut last year
but was surprisingly called up after the African Nations Cup finals earlier this
year as first choice for the friendlies against Paraguay and Scotland. There is
some doubt about the validity of his date of birth, which makes him a mere
18-years-old.
22-Victor Enyeama (Enyimba) Born: 29.8.82
He and Ejide
are the only two players in the squad still based in Nigeria. Enyeama helped his
club Enyimba win the Nigerian league title last season but last month they were
knocked out in the early stages of the African Champions League. Made his debut
against Kenya in a friendly international in early May.
1-Ike Shoronmu (Lucerne) Born: 16.10.67
Missed out on
the last World Cup finals after breaking his arm just weeks before the finals in
France. Has been Nigeria's first choice for the last two years but was without a
club for most of the season after being released by Besiktas of Turkey.
Previously played for FC Zurich in Switzerland.
Defenders
13-Rabiu Afolabi (Standard Liege) Born: 18.4.80
Former captain
of Nigeria's under-20s, his international career has been stymied by injury in
recent years. Played for a brief spell at Napoli in Italy before returning to
Belgium for a season in which he further enhanced his reputation. Made his Super
Eagles debut in the World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone in June 2000.
3-Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea) Born: 29.8.78
Teenage
starlet from Kaduna who has been at odds in recent years with Nigerian officials
and seen little international action over the last 18 months, playing in just
one game at the recent Nations Cup finals in Mali. FA Cup winner with Chelsea in
2000, having joined from Belgium's Anderlecht in 1997.
15-Christopher Justice (Royal Antwerp) Born: 24.12.81
Moved to Europe last summer after making his debut for his country
in the World Cup qualifier against Liberia in May. Kept his place in the squad
for the Nations Cup finals in Mali, although he had just one outing at the
tournament. Is set to move to newly promoted Manchester City in the English
premier league next season.
19-Eric Ejiofor (Maccabi Haifa) Born: 21.7.79
Unheralded
defender who helped Enyimba win the Nigerian league title last season before
moving to Israel. Made his debut in the 2002 African Nations Cup qualifiers and
then made the squad for the finals in Mali in January.
5-Isaac Okoronkwo (Shakhtar Donetsk) Born: 1.5.78
Has
emerged from the obscurity of eastern Europe to win a place in the Nigerian
squad. Played in the UEFA Champions League after Shakhtar signed him from Serif
Tiraspol of Moldova. Debut for Nigeria in January 2001 against Zambia in Lagos
in a Nations Cup qualifier.
16-Efetobore Sodje (Crewe Alexandra) Born: 5.10.72
London-born journeyman professional in the lower reaches of the
English league who has again surprisingly forced his way into the Nigerian squad
for a major tournament. He was in the 2000 African Nations Cup finals squad but
did not play. A goal against Ireland in mid-May made sure of his trip to the
World Cup finals.
14-Ifeanyi Udeze (PAOK Salonika) Born: 21.7.80
Forced
his way into the Nigerian starting line-up after his debut for the national team
against Zambia in January 2001. A product of the Nigerian under-17 side, who
moved to Kavala in Greece in 1997 and then PAOK. He was the subject of some
controversy last year with officials and team mates branding him "arrogant".
6-Taribo West (Kaiserslautern) Born: 26.3.74
0.
Charismatic defender best known for his colourful hairstyles.
Moved to Germany last November after a successful season with Derby County in
England but was released by Kaiserslautern in April for disciplinary reasons and
told to find a new club next season. Previously at AJ Auxerre, Inter Milan and
AC Milan. A member of the Nigerian under-23 team that won Olympic gold in
Atlanta in 1996. Made his senior team debut two years earlier in a friendly at
Sweden.
2-Joseph Yobo (Olympique Marseille) Born: 6.9.80.
Signed
in the off-season by Marseille from the Belgian club Standard Liege. A member of
the Nigerian under-20s at the 1999 world championships, which the west African
country hosted. Made his debut for the Super Eagles last March in Zambia and
played in several vital World Cup qualifiers.
Midfielders
8-Mutiu Adepoju (Salamanca) Born: 22.12.70
Forced his own way
back into the squad, arriving unannounced ahead of the friendly against Scotland
in Aberdeen in April and persuading officials to let him train with the team.
Did enough to win his place and is now set to compete in his third successive
World Cup finals.
18-Benedict Akwuegbu (Shenyang Haishi) Born: 3.11.1974
Dropped from the Nations Cup squad which went to Mali in January
despite scoring the day before the final cut was made in a friendly against the
Ivory Coast. Since restored to the team for the World Cup finals. Made his debut
for Nigeria at the 2000 Nations Cup finals where the Super Eagles finished
runners-up.
7-Pius Ikedia (Ajax Amsterdam) Born: 11.7.80
Product of
Nigeria's under-20 side and also played in the under-23 team at the Olympic
Games in Sydney. Ajax signed him in July 1999 from the ASEC Abidjan academy in
the Ivory Coast and have sought since to protect him from too many call-ups for
national duty.
11-Garba Lawal (Roda JC Kerkrade) Born: 22.5.74
Scored
against Spain in the last World Cup finals and has been a consistent squad
member for the last five years despite indifferent form with his Dutch club.
Bought from Tunisian side Esperance, where he gained extensive experience in
international competition. Played at the last two African Nations Cup finals.
20-James Obiorah (Lokomotiv Moscow) Born: 24.8.78
Former
teenage prodigy who played at Anderlecht in Belgium before his star faded. Last
season restored some of his credibility for Lokomotiv Moscow in the European
Champions League. Scored for Nigerian in only his second appearance against
Jamaica in London on May 18.
10-Jay Jay Okocha (Paris St Germain) Born: 14.8.73
The
pivot of the Nigerian side whose own mercurial form accurately reflects the high
and lows of the Super Eagles' performances too. Africa's most expensive player
when he moved to Paris from Fenerbahce, having first come to prominence at
Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. Has taken over as captain from Sunday Oliseh.
23-Femi Opabunmi (Shooting Stars Ibadan) Born 3.3.85
Scored on debut in May against Kenya and goes to the World Cup just
three months after his 17th birthday. Has yet to play any senior club footballer
although Swiss club Grasshoppers signed him for next season in April and could
be sitting on a future sensation. Last summer was playing in the world under-17
championships in Trinidad.
Forwards
17-Julius Aghahowa (Shakhtar
Donetsk) Born: 12.2.82
Earned widespread popularity for his
goalscoring feats plus the extravagant cartwheel celebrations that follow. Has
been averaging more than a goal every other game for the Super Eagles, including
three at the Nations Cup finals in Mali. Recently valued at 7-million pounds by
his Ukrainian club and speculation is mounting about a possible move to England.
4-Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal) Born: 1.8.76
Triumphant for
Nigeria in the 1996 Olympic Games but has not been able to reproduce his club
form at international level since and last scored for Nigeria in May last year.
Twice winner of the African Footballer of the Year title and won the European
Cup with Ajax Amsterdam. Overcame a heart condition while at Inter Milan which
threatened to end his career
9-Bartholomew Ogbeche (Paris St Germain) Born: 1.10.84
Made his French league debut in September and has rapidly risen to
the rank of potential African superstar. Among the youngest players at the World
Cup finals, having already emerged as a certain starter after four successive
games for Nigeria in their World Cup warm-up programme.
21-John Utaka (Al Saad) Born 8.1.82
A prominent figure
in the Arab football world after stellar performances at Ismailia of Egypt and
now in Qatar. His international caps have been limited to three matches and one
game as a substitute in a meaningless qualifier for the 2002 African Nations Cup
finals.