Nigeria

 
Goalkeepers
Player Team, Age, Caps
Abiodun Baruwa (FC Sion, Switzerland), age 23, 3 caps.
Somewhat unsteady goalkeeper who played for Shooting Stars in Nigeria before moving to Switzerland last year. A squad member at the Atlanta Olympic in 1996 where Nigeria won gold.
 
William Okpara (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), 29, 5 caps.
South African-based goalkeeper who helped his club win the African Champions' Cup three years ago. Was on the fringes of the squad but is now a serious contender for the number one spot.
 
Peter Rufai (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), 34, 45 caps.
Among the longest-serving of all Nigeria's players, having made his international debut 15 years ago. Played at the last World Cup finals in the United States having been ignored by successive coaches for several years.
 
Ike Shorunmu (FC Zurich, Switzerland), 30, 10 caps.
Tall, competent keeper who is having his best season yet in Switzerland. Played in just one of the World Cup qualifiers.
 
Defenders
Player Team, Age, Caps
Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea, England), 19, 6 caps.
A broken leg in the early part of the season and his subsequent inability to win a first-team place at his English club might cost Babayaro a World Cup place.
 
Austin Eguavoen (Torpedo Moscow, Russia), 32, 52 caps.
Right-back with a brutish physical presence whose national team career has been more illustrious that his club career in Belgium, Spain and now Russia.
 
Uche Okafor (Kansas City Wizards, United States), 30, 33 caps.
A squad member at the World Cup four years ago but battling now to win a place in the starting line-up. Was an inaugural member of the foreign legion signed to brighten up Major League Soccer in the U.S.
 
Uche Okechukwu (Fenerbahce, Turkey), 30, 41 caps.
Stand-in captain who is the rock of the Nigerian defense. Has won numerous titles at club level and was one of the over-age players in the Olympic gold medal-winning team two years ago.
 
Godwin Okpara (Strasbourg, France), 25, 6 caps.
Gained prominence after moving from the obscurity of Aalst in Belgium to France. Can play in both defense and midfield.
 
Patrick Paschal (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), 21, 1 cap.
Making a late charge for a place in the squad. A member of the under-23 squad in Atlanta two years ago but didn't play.
 
Taribo West (Inter Milan, Italy), 24, 8 caps.
Spectacular and popular lion-hearted defender who is chasing the Italian title in his first season in Serie A. Began his career at Auxerre in France and was a gold medal-winner at the Atlanta Olympics.
 
Midfielders
Player Team, Age, Caps
Mutiu Adepoju (Real Sociedad, Spain), 27, 35 caps.
Unheralded midfielder who has been a regular international since graduating from the under-20 team that reached the World Youth Cup final in Saudi Arabia in 1989. Has played for four Spanish clubs in his career.
 
Finidi George (Real Betis, Spain), 28, 36 caps.
Nigeria's potential match-winner with his explosive wing play. A European Cup winner with Ajax Amsterdam before lucrative move to Spain.
 
Garba Lawal (Roda JC Kerkrade, Netherlands), 23 (24 on May 22), 3 caps.
Made his debut during the World Cup qualifiers and helped his club win last year's Dutch Cup final. Another graduate from the gold-medal Olympic team.
 
Stephen Musa (Saarbrucken, Germany), 23, 0 caps.
A surprise selection in coach Bora Milutinovic's squad for the April friendly against Germany. Plays in the third division in Germany.
 
Augustine Okocha (Fenerbahce, Turkey), 24, 26 caps.
Midfield playmaker whose deceptive languid style and apparent indifference has often come back to haunt opponents. A teenage sensation in the German Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt before a dispute with the coach saw him leave for Turkey.
 
Sunday Oliseh (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), 23, 22 caps.
One of Africa's finest footballing products, able to play either a destroyer role in midfield or a perfect passing game. Recent winner of the Dutch championship where he seems to have found his niche after disappointing seasons in Italy and Germany.
 
Wilson Oruma (Lens, France), 21, 4 caps.
Has had a fine season in helping his unfashionable French club to the brink of an unexpected championship win. Scored in the World Cup qualifiers against Kenya.
 
Forwards
Player Team, Age, Caps
Jonathan Akpoborie (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), 29, 8 caps.
A run of almost 15 games without a goal in the Bundesliga has jeopardized his chances of making the starting line-up for the opening game against Spain in Nantes on June 13 but has chance to shine in European Cup Winners' Cup final.
 
Emmanuel Amunike (Barcelona, Spain), 27, 25 caps.
Battling against time to recover from injury to make the World Cup. Hero of Nigeria's win at the 1994 African Nations' Cup. Has scored seven goals for his country.
 
Daniel Amokachi (Besiktas, Turkey), 25, 43 caps.
Dynamic, powerful striker who scored at the last World Cup finals and will be expected to produce more of the same in France. Previously with Everton in England and FC Bruges of Belgium.
 
Tijani Babangida (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), 24, 4 caps.
Has slowly worked his way into national team reckoning after a slow rise to prominence in the Netherlands. First played at VVV Venlo, then Roda JC Kerkrade before moving last summer to Ajax Amsterdam.
 
Victor Ikpeba (Monaco, France), 24 (25 on June 12), 15 caps.
The reigning African Footballer of the Year who helped French club Monaco into the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. Has only just forced a place in the Super Eagles starting line-up after years on the bench.
 
Nwankwo Kanu (Inter Milan, Italy), 21, 7 caps.
Has bravely recovered from heart surgery to return to active soccer but is still struggling to recapture the form that saw him named African Footballer of the Year in 1996. Captain and goal scoring hero of the Olympic team in Atlanta.
 
James Obiorah (Anderlecht, Belgium), 19, 0 caps.
Touted two years ago as the new hope of African soccer after making a teenage debut with the Belgian club but has lost the impetus and seen limited league action this season.
 
Christopher Ohenhen (Compostela, Spain), 27, 1 cap.
Signed by Real Madrid eight years ago but made his name in front of goal for unfashionable Compostela. Had previously rejected national team call-ups to concentrate on his club career.
 
Rachidi Yekini (FC Zurich, Switzerland), 34, 63 caps.
Making a comeback into contention for the squad after a deluge of goals in the Swiss league. Nigeria's all-time leading scorer with 23 goals, known as the Kaduna Bull for his strong physical presence.

(Reuters)
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