The recent CAF Africa Cup of Nations saw Nigeria, under Stephen Keshi, began the year with a bang, going all the way through to claim their third continental title and thus seal a place at this June's FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.
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The feat plunged the entire nation into raptures, and former captain Yakubu Ayegbeni was quick to pay tribute to the Super Eagles despite not featuring during the African finals.
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"It was an exciting campaign for Nigeria," the 30-year-old Guangzhou R&F striker told FIFA.com.
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"We had a young team but they put in brilliant performances.
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The coach has done a good job in moulding the team into a strong unit. It is an achievement which has made all the Nigerian people happy."
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The success, according to the former Middlesbrough and Blackburn marksman, provides Keshi's charges with not only a morale-booster but also challenges heading into the eight-nation global showpiece, where they are grouped alongside Spain, Tahiti and Uruguay.
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"The team are expected to continue their good form in Brazil in June," continued Ayegbeni, who is Nigeria's third highest international goal-scorer with 21 goals from 57 caps. "But after our triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations, we will become a target for rivals, who will be motivated to defeat us.
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And these are the continental champions of the world so the pressure is greater, but it is good for our youngsters to gain international experience."
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Striking prodigies It proved to be, though, a campaign harder than expected for Nigeria. Keshi's hopefuls opened with two 1-1 draws against firstly Burkina Faso, and then Zambia, before a pair of late penalties from Victor Moses against Ethiopia sent them to the quarter-finals. They proceeded to edge Côte d'Ivoire 2-1, before routing Mali 4-1 to set up a final re-match with an impressive Burkina Faso, where they prevailed 1-0.