A profile of Nigeria ahead of the African Cup of Nations - including past record, recent form and information on their players and coach.

PAST RECORD

In the last three finals, Nigeria have been among the heavy favourites but were eliminated on each occasion at the semi-final stage.

Prior to that they were winners in 1980 and 1994; and beaten finalists in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000.

RECENT FORM

Nigeria have battled for consistency since missing out on the World Cup finals but did beat Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland 1-0 away in their last outing. They lost 4-1 to Ghana in a friendly in London at the start of the year.

COACH

Berti Vogts will attempt to become the second coach to win the double of the European Championship and the African Cup of Nations.

The German was coach of his native country when they won the 1996 European Championship in England.

Vogts, a World Cup winner in his playing days, took over as Nigeria coach at the start of 2007. The 61-year-old previously coached the national teams of Kuwait and Scotland and Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

PLAYERS

Portsmouth striker Nwankwo Kanu has yet to emulate his club form in the colours of the Nigerian team but will lead the Super Eagles in Ghana in what is likely to be his final fling at this level of continental competiton.

Nigeria will have several key players from the Premier League besides Kanu, including Everton's Yakubu and Joseph Yobo, John Utaka from Portsmouth, the Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, newcomer Dickson Etuhu from Sunderland and Newcastle United's Obafemi Martins.

Striker Peter Odemwingie was born in Kazakhstan but chose to play for Nigeria, where his father hails from.

A recall for Israel-based goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama means there will be heavy competition to see who will be first choice in goal for Nigeria at the finals.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Bastia, France), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel)

Defenders: Rabiu Afolabi (Sochaux, France), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France), Ifeanyi Emeghara (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion, Switzerland), Danny Shittu (Watford), Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France), Joseph Yobo (Everton),

Midfielders: Richard Eromoigbe (Levski Sofia, Bulgaria), Dickson Etuhu (Sunderland), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Onyekachi Okonkwo (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Seyi Olofinjana (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ike Uche (Getafe, Spain)

Forwards: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Stephen Makinwa (Lazio, Italy), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United), Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), John Utaka (Portsmouth)

Reuters