Nigeria have appointed former Sweden coach Lars Lagerback (above) to lead them at the World Cup in South Africa in June.

Lagerback was chosen ahead of Glenn Hoddle and Sven-Goran Eriksson, who had both been linked with the job.

Nigerian Football Federation spokesman Ademola Olajire said Hoddle and former Senegal boss Bruno Metsu had impressed in their interviews.

But he added: "Lagerback has now signed a five-month contract to take Nigeria to the World Cup."
Lagerback succeeds Shaibu Amodu as coach of the Super Eagles after they finished third at the African Nations Cup in Angola last month.

The Swede will watch Nigeria's friendly against DR Congo on Wednesday and will be based in Nigeria from next month until the World Cup.

Lagerback has huge experience of international coaching.
He began work with the Sweden Football Association in 1990, concentrating on the the country's junior teams.

In 1996, he took over the Sweden B team and stayed there until 1998 when Tommy Soderberg took him on as assistant coach for Sweden.

In 2000, he was promoted to the position of joint-coach, a responsibility he would share with Soderberg until 2004.
Under his guidance, Sweden qualified for Euro 2000, but lost in the group stages

By Staff reporter and agencies