Abuja, May 30 (IANS): As the 2014 FIFA World Cup draws nearer, Nigerians are hopeful that the team representing the West African country at the global tournament will hoist the national green-white-green flag higher and higher.
The tournament begins June 12 in Brazil and Nigeria's senior national team, also known as Super Eagles, will respectively slug it out with Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Argentina in Group F, at the early stage of the competition.
Hampered by late preparations and injury scare, the onus lies on the team to raise their heads above all heads at the 30-day World Cup tournament. The Super Eagles are expected to be in top flight!
Coach Stephen Keshui will be pruning down his 30-member team to 23 June 2, 10 days to the World Cup. The list is expected have some of the players who won the gold medal at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in South Africa in January 2013.
Following a 2-2 draw in an international friendly against Scotland Wednesday night in London, football enthusiasts in Nigeria believe that the Super Eagles will surpass their past record at the 2014 World Cup.
"We are solidly behind Coach Keshi, the man who has brought the needed changes in the national team. The international friendly match with Scotland has proved that he is truly set for the World Cup. I will be glad to see the Super Eagles having a semi-final spot at the World Cup. This will surpass their past record," said Eniola Ajao, a female soccer fan.
Ajao and many other Nigerians believe that the players representing Nigeria have the needed exposure to conquer stage-fright at the World Cup, having carefully considered the calibre of players that will be paraded by other competing nations.
The recalling of captain Joseph Yobo, who had played the 2010 FIFA World Cup but was banned by Keshi, would serve as a morale booster for the younger players who will be representing Nigeria for the first time at the World Cup.
"Yobo will bring his experience to the fore at the World Cup. He is a player with a wealth of experience. In fact, he has the best World Cup experience among the team members," added Ajao.
Osaze Odemwingie, an experienced Nigerian striker, who currently plays for English Premiership Club Stoke City, has also returned to the national team. His inclusion in the team's list is also a good development, analysts say.
Remi Elamah, a Nigerian sprinter who is an ardent supporter of the Super Eagles, said going by the support from the local football authorities, the team will not fall short of its top rating. "In fact, the Super Eagles will make us proud and we know it," she quipped.
While some analysts wondered how a team which only opened its training camp May 26 can achieve so much success at the World Cup, others think winning a trophy in a soccer competition is not determined by how far the team has trained but how well the players are ready to cooperate with themselves.
Apparently, the confidence reposed in the Nigerian team is harped on "team work", a characteristic of the Super Eagles that saw it conquering Africa at the AFCON 2013 competition.
In addition to that, the individual strength and experience of such players like John Mikel Obi, who plays for Chelsea FC in England; Victor Moses, who plays for Liverpool FC; Ambrose Efe of Celtic FC, goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, Ogenyi Onazi and Emmanuel Emenike of Fernebache FC, among others, will count.