Profile Of Confederation Cup Bound Eagles As Captured By BBC Sports

FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP, BRAZIL

·         Date: 15 - 30 June

BBC Sport takes a closer look at the eight teams who will contest the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil. Nigeria are back in the competition after a near 20-year absence. Can they shake up the big guns?

HOW THEY QUALIFIED

By clinching their first Africa Cup of Nations title for 19 years in February, with a dominant performance over Burkina Faso in Johannesburg. Sunday Mba's volley settled the game, ensuring head coach Stephen Keshi became only the second man to win the cup as coach and player.

HOW DO THEY PLAY?

Keshi initially adopted a 4-4-2 formation but has favoured a fluid, attacking 4-3-3 since the tail-end of last year. The Super Eagles attack with pace and width, although the absence through injury of Victor Moses has denied them a key threat up front. Moses's Chelsea team-mate John Mikel Obi is one of two midfielders who will provide defensive stability.

CONFEDERATIONS CUP RECORD

The 1995 tournament is the Super Eagles' only experience of the competition. Victory over Japan and a draw with Argentina secured them a third-place play-off, which they lost on penalties to Mexico.

THE BOSS

An emphasis on domestic-based players has characterised Stephen Keshi's 18-month tenure. Keshi - nicknamed 'Big Boss' - is known for his wit and command of African football's politics. He temporarily quit in the aftermath of their Africa Cup of Nations victory following a dispute with the Nigerian FA, and has since been under fire over his treatment of former skipper Joseph Yobo.

THE MEN TO WATCH

Nigeria-based midfielder Sunday Mba caught the eye in the Africa Cup of Nations triumph, scoring two important goals - both of which came on a Sunday, and one of which was the winner in the final.

John Mikel Obi tends to ditch his defensive shackles for Nigeria and will need a big tournament in Brazil. The midfielder has scored more goals in his 48 caps (three) for Nigeria than he has in 276 appearances for Chelsea (two).

The Super Eagles will want a big summer from Dynamo Kiev forwardBrown Ideye . He has notched 21 times for the Ukrainian outfit this season and, with Cup of Nations top-scorer Emmanuel Emenike injured, Ideye needs to shine.

LAST TOURNAMENT

Nigeria started slowly at this year's Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa with successive draws. But from those humble beginnings the Super Eagles then won four consecutive games - including a quarter-final defeat of favourites Ivory Coast - to clinch a first continental title since 1994.

Analysis

DID YOU KNOW?

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with 175m inhabitants - estimated to be the seventh biggest nation in the world.

FIFA WORLD RANKING

Nigeria are ranked 31st in the world. They are the fourth-best team in Africa, according to the rankings, below Mali, Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Enyeama (Maccabi Tel-Aviv), Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva), Agbim (Enugu Rangers); Defenders: Oboabona (Sunshine Stars), Echiejile (Sporting Braga), Ambrose (Celtic), Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kwambe (Sunshine Stars), Benjamin (Heartland FC), Omeruo (ADO Den Haag); Midfielders: Ogu (Coimbra), Mikel (Chelsea), Ogude (Valerenga), Onazi (Lazio), Eze (Enugu Rangers), Mba (Enugu Rangers);Forwards: Musa (CSKA Moscow), Ideye (Dynamo Kiev), Akpala (Werder Bremen), Gambo (Kano Pillars), Ujah (Cologne), Babatunde (FC Kryvbas), Oduamadi (AS Varese).

Culled:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22751677