Nigeria World Cup 2018 team guide: Squad, record, manager, path to final, team news, latest odds and star man

NIGERIA are due to make their sixth World Cup appearance after qualifying with ease for Russia 2018 - and many people believe this could be the year they really make their mark.

The Super Eagles are packed full of exciting young talent - with many familiar faces from the Premier League itching to prove themselves on the biggest stage of all.

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Here's all you need to know about the Group D contenders, who will face Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in a tough first round.

In a nutshell: African nation that’s choc full of familiar faces and who were the first from the continent to qualify for Russia. A decent bet to be the surprise package in Russia this summer.

Flag: Straightforward tricolor of two vertical green bands (to represent the forests of Nigeria) sandwiching a white band (to represent peace).

Population: 186 million

Nickname: The Super Eagles.

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Manager: German coach Gernot Rohr seems to be working his way around every African nation there is. The former manager has already been in charge of Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso and has been with the Super Eagles since August 2016.

World Cup news

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OLD TOWN ROAD

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COME FLY WITH ME

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Captain: It’s former Chelsea stalwart John Obi Mikel or John Mikel Obi. Take your pick.

Star Man: You’ll recognise many of the players in the Nigerian squad – Odion Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Wilfrid Ndidi, etc, but the onus will be on Chelsea’s Victor Moses to take the lead this summer.

Rising star: With four goals from his eight caps to date, the aforementioned Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho could be one to keep ‘em peeled for this summer.

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Most caps: Vincent Enyeama and Joseph Yobo (both 101).

All-time top scorer: Rashid Yekini (37).

Nice kit? “When I first saw the new kit I was like, 'Wow, this is sick! I need one now!” So said Arsenal’s Nigerian striker Alex Iwobi. He was the right about the "sick" bit. It’s green with white chevrons and guaranteed to turn even the hardiest of stomachs. The dark green away kit is much better.

Most offensive haircut? Ahmed Musa’s. Not offensive as such, just not finished.

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Any names we can laugh at like kids? Nigeria is a squad packed full of sensational names. There’s Ubong Friday and our old friend Isaac Success, for a start, and our personal favourite, Stephen Eze (like Sunday morning).

Rivals? They have ongoing battles with both Ghana and Cameroon, neither of whom made it to Russia.

National anthem: Arise, O Compatriots! We added the exclamation mark, by the way. It just looks better.

Sample lyric:
Arise, O compatriots,
Nigeria's call obey
To serve our Fatherland
With love and strength and faith.

National dish: Debate rages about whether it should be spicy jollof rice or the doughy fufu. I say "rages" but…

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National drink: Get a shot of ogogoro down your neck. It’s fermented from Raphia palm tree juice and it certainly packs a punch.

World Cup Finals Record: P18 W5 D3 L10 F20 A26

World Cup Win Ratio: 27.77%

Best World Cup Performance: Round of 16 in 1994, 1998 and 2014.

FIFA World Ranking: 52

Path to final: Nigeria hammered Argentina in a recent friendly so it's not a given that they won't spring a surprise again.

But if, as is more likely, they finish second, they are likely to play France in round two, as they did in 2014 when they were beaten 2-0.

A quarter-final with Portugal or Uruguay is likely to follow, with Brazil waiting in the semis.