FACTBOX-Soccer-Profile on Nigeria team for 2019 African Cup of Nations

Reuters

June 17 (Reuters) - Factbox on African Cup of Nations qualifiers Nigeria:

African Cup of Nations record:

Previous appearances in finals: (17) 1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013

Best performance: Winners 1980, 1994, 2013

Drawn in Group B with Burundi, Guinea and Madagascar.

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Coach: Gernot Rohr

The 65-year-old former Bayern Munich player was appointed Nigeria coach on a two year deal in August 2016 but had it extended after qualifying the Super Eagles for last year's World Cup finals in Russia.

He spent 12 years as player and then coach at French club Girondins Bordeaux, taking them to the 1996 UEFA Cup finals where they lost to Bayern.

He was previously at the Cup of Nations finals as coach of Gabon in 2012 and Niger one year later.

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Key player: Wilfred Ndidi. Age: 22. Midfielder.

The Leicester City midfielder will be the anchor of the Nigerian side in Egypt, after a Premier League season where his ability to recover the ball was unmatched and he made the most tackles.

He has proven an astute purchase from Belgium's Racing Genk, who spotted him playing for Nigeria's under-20 team.

It is expected his time in Egypt will be clouded by speculation about a possible move to one of the big-spending clubs when he gets back to England.

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FIFA world ranking June 2019: 45

How they qualified: Top placed team in Group E, ahead of South Africa, Libya and the Seychelles.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United), Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino), Chidozie Awaziem (Rizespor), Leon Balogun (Brighton and Hove Albion), Jamilu Collins (Paderborn), William Troost Ekong (Udinese), Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes), Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor)

Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City), John Obi Mikel (Middlesbrough), Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal), Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux), Paul Onuachu (Midtjylland), Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray), Victor Osimhen (Charleroi), Moses Simon (Levante) (Compiled by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)