体坛英语新闻：Nigerian federation approves World Cup squad

ABUJA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's squad for the 2014 World Cup will achieve good results, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Wednesday.

There were initial speculations that the Nigerian football governing body might oppose the selection of players by the coach Stephen Keshi, but vice chairman of the NFF Mike Umeh told reporters in Nigeria's capital Abuja that the football federation was pleased with Keshi's 23-man squad. He said the Super Eagles coach is poised for success.

"We are not surprised about this team list. We expected it. We have to congratulate Keshi because it is not easy to draw such a list out of the 30 players he is having in his camp," said Umeh.

Keshi unleashed Nigeria's much-awaited World Cup team list late Monday, including the names of favorite players and some home-based players in the squad. The final list was submitted on June 2, as demanded by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

The team played a goalless draw with Greece early Wednesday in an international friendly match staged in Philadelphia. The Super Eagles had also played a 2-2 draw with Switzerland last week in London.

The Nigerian squad will play another friendly match with the United States on June 6 before jetting out to Brazil for the World Cup.

Nigeria will play in Group F at the early stage of the competition, with Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Argentina respectively, to book a spot in the World Cup's round of 16 stage.