Nigeria's generation next

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Three years ago, Chelsea's Kenneth Omeruo was at the heart of the defence for Nigeria's Flying Eagles as they crashed out in the quarterfinals of the Fifa Under-20 World Championship in Colombia to France.
Ogenyi Onazi however did not make the party to Colombia 2011, after coach John Obuh dropped him from the final squad for the championship, as midfielder Ramon Azeez captained an exciting side that also included Ahmed Musa.
These four players, together with another prospect Godfrey Oboabona made Stephen Keshi's 23-man list for the 2014 Fifa World Cup with Omeruo playing every minute of Nigeria's participation at the tournament.
With Nigeria's ouster came the expected retirement of Joseph Yobo. The former Everton defender alongside goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who was arguably the team's best performer at Brazil 2014 made their World Cup debuts at Japan/Korea 2002 and have carried the flag since then.
Enyeama, at 31, has probably another World Cup left in him, and so will the likes of Michael Babatunde, Uche Nwofor, Musa and Onazi who will definitely be leaders of the new generation of Eagles.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia is already on the horizon and Nigeria will look to qualify for their sixth appearance at the showpiece event albeit with the continual building of the Super Eagles with the injection of new blood who can strengthen the team and provide the handlers with more options.
In a three-part series, supersport.com takes a cursory look at some of the emerging youngsters who might come good in the next four years and become quality additions to the team while hoping that they eventually make the grade just like Omeruo, Onazi and Musa have done and are now the bedrock of the national set-up.