Hello sports fans round the globe, today’s piece is in continuation of our countdown to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. I’m going to dedicate this edition of my column on the statistics of the Nigerian players used during the World Cup qualification series, especially the minutes the players contributed to see Nigeria go through to the World Cup in Brazil.
No guts, no glory.
A total of 32 players were used for the games. As stated below, the statistics show the players, their clubs and minutes they played for the country during the qualifiers;
Player Club(s) Minutes WC 2014 qualifiers
Vincent Enyeama Lille (FRA), Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), Lille (FRA) 720 mins
Godfrey Oboabona Sunshine Stars (NGA), Caykur Rizespor (TUR) 720 mins
Efetobore Ambrose MS Ashdod (ISR), Celtic (SCO) 630 mins
Elderson Echiejile Braga (POR) 540 mins
John Mikel Chelsea (ENG) 540 mins
Eddy Onazi Lazio (ITA) 522 mins
Ahmed Musa CSKA Moskva (RUS) 517 mins
Victor Moses Wigan (ENG), Chelsea (ENG), Liverpool (ENG) 402 mins
Azubuike Egwuekwe Warri Wolves (NGA) 382 mins
Nnamdi Oduamadi Varese (ITA), Brescia (ITA) 345 mins
Kenneth Omeruo ADO Den Haag (NED), Chelsea (ENG) 338 mins
Emmanuel Emenike Fenerbahçe (TUR) 264 mins
Sunday Mba Warri Wolves (NGA), Bastia (FRA) 251 mins
Ideye Brown Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 240 mins
Reuben Gabriel Kano Pillars (NGA) 180 mins
Juwon Oshaniwa Sharks FC (NGA) 180 mins
Ikechuwku Uche Granada (ESP) 180 mins
Ejike Uzoenyi Enugu Rangers (NGA) 180 mins
Nwankwo Obiora Gubbio (ITA) 143 mins
John Utaka Montpellier (FRA) 143 mins
Anthony Ujah Köln (GER) 112 mins
John Ogu Académica de Coimbra (POR) 103 mins
Solomon Kwambe Sunshine Stars (NGA) 90 mins
Obafemi Martins Seattle Sounders (USA) 60 mins
Nosa Igiebor Real Betis (ESP) 44 mins
Kalu Uche Espanyol (ESP) 34 mins
Henry Uche Enyimba (NGA) 22 mins
Raheem Lawal Atlético Baleares (ESP) 15 mins
Victor Obinna Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS) 11 mins
Shola Ameobi Newcastle (ENG) 6 mins
Fegor Ogude Valerenga Fotball (NOR) 4 mins
Uche Nwofor Heerenveen (NED) 2 mins
Feel the surge of enthusiasm as you read these famous Nigerian players who sacrificed their time. However, sometimes the games are inevitable.
Many team will fail in the World Cup in Brazil, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal.
Only goals and consistency make the difference in life.
Join me again for another edition, till then, have a nice day and poke in some goals for now and the future.
Please, do send your reactions to xmac4u@yahoo.com
Peter Ijeh,
ULc, BSs.
