World Cup 2014 Preview – Nigeria

Nigeria, the reigning African Cup of Nations champion, are ranked #45 in FIFA's World Rankings, but this is a squad that will more than welcome their underdog status, and will go into the World Cup with a chip on their shoulders.

Don't sleep on this team, even after analyzing their relatively low world ranking. They have great depth and are talented across the board, spearheaded by Chelsea FC anchor John Obi Mikel. Mikel is a stout midfielder who loves to push forward and get in on the attack, but has the patience and knowledge of the game to know when to pick and choose his battles. Unfortunately for Nigeria, Mikel isn't exactly a goal scoring threat, having only scored one goal for his club in the English Premier League, but soccer is a fickle sport and goal scoring doesn't accurately depict how talented a player is, and John Obi Mikel fits into that category.

Victor Moses is another Nigerian star that plays his club soccer in England, currently on loan to Liverpool from Chelsea. The 23 year old striker is their greatest threat for generating goals, although his career statistics may tell another story. Moses is a young star and this youth could prove detrimental as group play continues, but he is a budding player whose ceiling just seems to keep rising and rising.

My prediction: the Group F previews are now completed, and Nigeria just don't have the guns to compete in this group. Nigeria did well in World Cup qualification, but their luck runs out this summer. They finish fourth in Group F and go home disappointed.