Chris Maduewesi
Member
Every coach would have players he can at least pin his hopes on to deliver the goods for him,those he knows stands out among the many players he has in his team.
Not like the other ones aren't useful to his cause,the thing is that there are specific ones who carry others along,those whom everything revolves around,the spiritual soul of the team.
If anything happens to them,others tend to lose inspiration and falter because they ooze and exude the confidence to power them along.
As the Super Eagles of Nigeria begin their 20
14 FIFA World Cup campaign,there are four players coach Stephen Keshi will be banking on,hoping that they are at the top of their games to lead the country's charge in Brazil.
These players were drawn from every department of a team,with the full knowledge that a deficiency in any of the areas could he quite harmful.
* Vincent Enyeama:
Deputy skipper of the Super Eagles,Enyeama is one of the most experienced in the Nigerian team.
Making his third appearance at a FIFA World Cup tournament,the Lille FC goalkeeper has made four starts in the World Cup competition.
A very good goalkeeper,in him,there is an aura of confidence that he exudes. Very good in goal,no surprises he won the best African player in the French Ligue1 this past season.
Keshi will be hoping that the former Enyimba and Heartland goalkeeper is at his best when he mans the post for Nigeria.
He was the stand-out player for Nigeria at the last World Cup in South Africa,though the Super Eagles crashed out in the group stages,but who can forget his heroics against Lionel Messi then?
Hopefully he can recreate that again in Brazil.
* Kenneth Omeruo:
He is young,energetic and a fighter. A defender that plays with his heart out for the team,Omeruo is someone that can be hoped on to deliver in defence for Nigeria.
One thing that he has going for him is that the 20-year old is fearless,not scared at all coming up against the best strikers.
What readily comes to mind is Nigeria's quarter-final game against Ivory Coast last year at the 2013 Nations Cup. Omeruo pocketed Didier Drogba,that the big Ivorian hitman was totally ineffective that day.
Tipped by many as the soul of Nigeria's defence,it is little wonder that skipper Joseph Yobo is largely out of the team because of this youngster.
* John Obi Mikel:
First World Cup appearance for Mikel,if there is any time for Mikel to really shine for the Super Eagles,then it is now.
Keshi has trusted him with the responsibility of being his main man,the conductor of the orchestra.
Every of Nigeria's creative play would possibly be pulled by Mikel and he will get the team going with his artistry.
At club level,Mikel is a defensive player but while playing for Nigeria he is saddled with an offensive role for his country.
He will be the heart of Nigeria's midfield in Brazil and will certainly be coming up against the best players in the world.
If there is a game that has showed us he can do it,then it would be last year's game against Spain in the Confederations Cup,where he held his own against the likes of Xavi,Andres Iniesta and co.
* Emmanuel Emenike:
Maybe he is already feeling the weight of expectations on his shoulders,Emenike last week said that he is not the "messiah of the team"
With Ikechukwu Uche not included in the squad to the World Cup,it is only natural that people look up to Emenike for the goalscoring solution of the team.
Having endeared himself to the Super Eagles fans last year with his goalscoring prowess,the Fenerbahce striker has shown that he can be the 'Rashidi Yekini' (Blessed memory) of this team.
He came to the limelight at the Nations Cup tournament in South Africa where he emerged as the top scorer with four goals despite missing the finals through an injury.
His goals against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa were pivotal in the World Cup qualifiers,as Nigeria secured its fifth World Cup qualification.
And he will be the striker Keshi will be putting his hopes on to find the back of the net at the World Cup.
These four players are all proven players,and Keshi won't toy with them in his bid to do the unthinkable for Nigeria: "win the World Cup"
Not like the other ones aren't useful to his cause,the thing is that there are specific ones who carry others along,those whom everything revolves around,the spiritual soul of the team.
If anything happens to them,others tend to lose inspiration and falter because they ooze and exude the confidence to power them along.
As the Super Eagles of Nigeria begin their 20
These players were drawn from every department of a team,with the full knowledge that a deficiency in any of the areas could he quite harmful.
* Vincent Enyeama:
Deputy skipper of the Super Eagles,Enyeama is one of the most experienced in the Nigerian team.
Making his third appearance at a FIFA World Cup tournament,the Lille FC goalkeeper has made four starts in the World Cup competition.
A very good goalkeeper,in him,there is an aura of confidence that he exudes. Very good in goal,no surprises he won the best African player in the French Ligue1 this past season.
Keshi will be hoping that the former Enyimba and Heartland goalkeeper is at his best when he mans the post for Nigeria.
He was the stand-out player for Nigeria at the last World Cup in South Africa,though the Super Eagles crashed out in the group stages,but who can forget his heroics against Lionel Messi then?
Hopefully he can recreate that again in Brazil.
* Kenneth Omeruo:
He is young,energetic and a fighter. A defender that plays with his heart out for the team,Omeruo is someone that can be hoped on to deliver in defence for Nigeria.
One thing that he has going for him is that the 20-year old is fearless,not scared at all coming up against the best strikers.
What readily comes to mind is Nigeria's quarter-final game against Ivory Coast last year at the 2013 Nations Cup. Omeruo pocketed Didier Drogba,that the big Ivorian hitman was totally ineffective that day.
Tipped by many as the soul of Nigeria's defence,it is little wonder that skipper Joseph Yobo is largely out of the team because of this youngster.
* John Obi Mikel:
First World Cup appearance for Mikel,if there is any time for Mikel to really shine for the Super Eagles,then it is now.
Keshi has trusted him with the responsibility of being his main man,the conductor of the orchestra.
Every of Nigeria's creative play would possibly be pulled by Mikel and he will get the team going with his artistry.
At club level,Mikel is a defensive player but while playing for Nigeria he is saddled with an offensive role for his country.
He will be the heart of Nigeria's midfield in Brazil and will certainly be coming up against the best players in the world.
If there is a game that has showed us he can do it,then it would be last year's game against Spain in the Confederations Cup,where he held his own against the likes of Xavi,Andres Iniesta and co.
* Emmanuel Emenike:
Maybe he is already feeling the weight of expectations on his shoulders,Emenike last week said that he is not the "messiah of the team"
With Ikechukwu Uche not included in the squad to the World Cup,it is only natural that people look up to Emenike for the goalscoring solution of the team.
Having endeared himself to the Super Eagles fans last year with his goalscoring prowess,the Fenerbahce striker has shown that he can be the 'Rashidi Yekini' (Blessed memory) of this team.
He came to the limelight at the Nations Cup tournament in South Africa where he emerged as the top scorer with four goals despite missing the finals through an injury.
His goals against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa were pivotal in the World Cup qualifiers,as Nigeria secured its fifth World Cup qualification.
And he will be the striker Keshi will be putting his hopes on to find the back of the net at the World Cup.
These four players are all proven players,and Keshi won't toy with them in his bid to do the unthinkable for Nigeria: "win the World Cup"