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.

Di Maria loss a hefty blow for Argentina

 

 

If a scan on Sunday confirms Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria is out of the World Cup it would be a significant blow to the South Americans' hopes of winning the tournament for the third time.
Di Maria had to be replaced by Enzo Perez after half an hour of Saturday's 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Belgium, which set up a last-four clash against the Netherlands, when he damaged a muscle in his right thigh shooting on goal.
Media in his native country and in Spain, where he plays for Real Madrid, reported the 26-year-old would play no further part in the finals in Brazil, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Argentine soccer federation (AFE).
"Tests will be made today to assess the extent of the injury," the AFE said on their website on Sunday.
Nicknamed "Fideo" (Noodle) due to his slight frame, Di Maria is Argentina's most creative player after captain Lionel Messi.
His electric pace can carry him past and away from opponents, he links up well with Messi and the other forwards and he has an eye for goal as he proved when he netted the winner in the 1-0 win over Switzerland in the last 16.
"He's vital, almost irreplaceable," coach Alejandro Sabella said before the World Cup.
Should he be ruled out, Sabella will have to rely on Di Maria's replacement in the starting line-up to help unlock a well-drilled Dutch defence in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.
He will also be hoping forward Sergio Aguero, who has missed Argentina's last two matches through injury, is fit enough to make an appearance.
One obvious bright spot for Sabella is the return to goal-scoring form of striker Gonzalo Higuain, whose superb strike against Belgium put Argentina through to the semifinals for the first time since 1990.
It was Higuain's first goal in five appearances at this World Cup and his fifth overall at soccer's global showpiece after he netted four in South Africa four years ago.
"I wasn't getting desperate about scoring because I knew I was going to get a goal sooner or later," Higuain, who ended a six-match scoring drought in Brasilia, told reporters.
"Obviously I'm very happy, especially with this being such a historically important win for Argentina," he added.
"They've been asking me since day one when the goal was going to come and I've always given them the same answer: I'm working on it."

Ivory Coast to name new coach

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Ivory Coast will have a new coach in place by the end of the month after the departure of Sabri Lamouchi following their World Cup exit, the country's football federation said.
The Ivorian Football Federation has mandated a five-man committee, which includes former coach Yeo Martial and former captain Cyrille Domoraud, to come up with a list of five names to replace Lamouchi, who departed after they failed to reach the last 16 in Brazil.
Lamouchi announced his exit just minutes after a controversial, and last-gasp 2-1 loss to Greece denied the Ivorians a first-ever spot in the second round. The former French international was at the end of his contract and it was not renewed.
The five names of prospective new coaches must be submitted before a July 31 deadline for the naming of the new incumbent, a federation statement added.
Former Italy and Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni told Italian radio last week he was set to be appointed while the names of Avram Grant and Herve Renard have also been linked to the job.
The Ivorians begin qualification for the 2015 African Nations Cup in September.