As the Super Eagles kick start their World Cup match tonight against Croatia, below are 23 quick facts about the team’s Jersey numbers.
23 Facts about Eagles Jersey Numbers
1) Reserve Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa will wear jersey no 1 which was also worn by Peter Rufai in 1994 & 1998, Ike Shorunmu in 2002, and Vincent Enyeama in 2010 & 2014)
2. Eagles left back Brian Idowu will be in Jersey no 2. which was the jersey used by Augustine Eguavoen in 1994, Mobi Oparaku in 1998, and Joseph Yobo in 2002, 2010, and 2014..
3) Belgian club Cercle Brugge K.S.V. Elderson Echiejile will wear Eagles No 3. The jersey for the left back position has been worn before by Taye Taiwo, Celestine Babayaro and Benedict Iroha
4) 22-year-old, Wilfred Ndidi will wear jersey no 4. Former Eagles International, Nwankwo Kanu wore Jersey No 4 in his days..
5) Central defender William Troost-Ekong will wear jersey no 5. The number five jersey has been worn by, Uche Okechukwu in 1994 and 1998 and. Efe Ambrose.6) Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion player, Leon Balogun, will wear Eagles Jersey no 6 worn also by Daniel Shittu.
7) Ahmed Musa, will be in jersey No 7 in Russia worn by former Sharks and Real Betis winger Finidi George in the national team.
8) Oghenekaro Etebo, 22, who recently moved to English Premier League side, Stoke City from will be in jersey No 8. Osaze Odemwingie won the jersey number at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
9) Since Rashidi Yekini scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal, against Bulgaria in 1994, occupants of the number 9 jersey have failed to find the target for the Super Eagles in 17 consecutive games at the tournament, a drought totaling 1016 minutes of football.
10) After Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha wore the jersey number 10 in three World Cups, in 1994, 1998, and 2002, Brown Ideye wore the reserved jersey No 10 in 2010, In 2014, John Mikel Obi which he has retained ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup..11) Chelsea Winger Victor Moses will be in jersey No 11 in Russia worn also by Emmanuel Emenike.
12) Right back Abdullahi Shehu will be in No 12 jersey. Nigeria scored a cumulative five goals in their second group-stage games, with players wearing number 12 netting twice – Samson Siasia in 1994 and Kalu Uche in 2010.
13) Simeon Nwakwo will be in jersey No 13. Late Super Eagles captain and coach Stephen Keshi at the 2014 World Cup handed the jersey number to Juwon Oshaniwa
14) While Eagles German tactician, Gernot Rohr has assigned jersey No 14 to Leicesrer City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, Stephen Keshi in 2014 gave Godfrey Oboabona a defender the jersey number.
15) Midfielders have always worn the Super Eagles’ number 15 at the World Cup: Sunday Oliseh, Justice Christopher, Lukman Haruna, Ramon Azeez, and now Joel Obi.
16) Austine Ejide wore jersey number 16 in 2010 and 2014 World Cup tournaments. Daniel Akpeyi will wear the jersey number in this year World Cup.
17) Ogenyi Onazi, midfielder,has been wearing jersey number 17 since the days of Coach Stephen Keshi for the national team. Gernot Rohr retained the jersey for the 25-year-old.
18) None of the veterans in the Eagles World Cup squad wore jersey No 18. The number was reserved for players making their debut. Alex Iwobi will wear the jersey number in Russia. Michael Babatunde midfielder wore the jersey in 2014.
19) Uche Nwofor, forward who made his World Cup debut in 2014 wore jersey No 19. 30-year-old John Ogu- the Nigerian footballer who plays as a central midfielder for the Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Be’er Sheva will make his World Cup debut in jersey No 19.
20) Michael Uchebo, forward, wore jersey No 20 in 2014, It is the jersey number for Chidozie Awaziem, central defender in Russia.
21) Tyronne Ebuechi will be in Jersey 21. In 2014 a goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, of Warri Wolves F.C. wore the jersey number.
22) Kenneth Omeruo, 24-year-old, who will be making is second World Cup appearance retained jersey number 22 which he wore in 2014 .
23) FIFA 2018 World Cup youngest goalkeeper and first choice keeper Francis Uzoho will be in jersey number 23 worn by forward, Shola Ameobi in Brazil.