May 12, 2002

LAGOS, May 12 (AFP) -- Penpics of key players for World Cup Group F contenders Nigeria:

NWANKWO KANU
Age: 25
Position: Striker
Club: Arsenal
Two months after he captained Nigeria to win a historic Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996, Nwankwo Kanu was diagnosed with a career-threatening heart problem.
He has since bounced back to become one of Nigeria's most celebrated football exports.
The 2002 World Cup will be only his second appearance on the centre stage of world football. At France '98, he only played a bit part role as he struggled to overcome a niggling knee injury.
Twice African Footballer of the Year, Kanu was first capped in May, 1994, against Sweden.
The bean-pole striker makes up for his seeming lack of pace with vision and lovely ball control.

JULIUS AGHAHOWA
Age: 20
Position: Striker
Club: Shaktar Donetsk (Ukr)
Regarded by many as the future of Nigerian football, Julius Aghahowa first came to prominence after starring for the 'Super Eagles' during the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999.p
Though the host team disappointed, failing to go past the quarter-finals, Aghahowa had done enough to win his first senior cap against Morocco less than a year later.
The striker netted three goals at the 2000 Nations Cup including a game-saving effort against Senegal in the quarter-final.
He continued at the next edition of the championship in Mali in February, emerging as top scorer with three goals.
Has become renowned for spectacular goal celebrations - a sequence of six or seven perfect backflips.

BARTHOLOMEW OGBECHE
Age: 18
Position: Striker
Club: Paris Saint Germain
Like so many Nigerian footballers, Ogbeche has worked his way up through to senior level after sparkling in the Super Eagles' junior teams, featuring for both Under-17 and Under-20 sides.
Broke into the first team at Paris Saint Germain only this season from the junior side.
Ogbeche, who won a Nigerian league title with Lobi Stars of Makurdi at the tender age of 15, has tremendous pace with an eye for goal as he has proved with several well-taken strikes for PSG this season.
Surprisingly omitted from this year's African Nations Cup in Mali, he won rave reviews after a lively showing on his debut against Paraguay in March.