Former Monaco and Sporting Braga left-back Elderson Echiejile has admitted that he struggled with an injury at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Echiejile was named on the Super Eagles 23-man roster to provide cover for Taye Taiwo but got a chance to make his World Cup debut in Nigeria's second group match against Greece after the ex-Marseille defender suffered an injury against Argentina.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner himself got injured against Greece and was forced to play through the pain barrier vs South Korea when he came on to replace an injured Joseph Yobo at half-time.

"In 2010 I was at the World Cup and we had a Swedish coach Lars Lagerback who took over from Shuaibu Amodu and at the end of the day we had preparatory games before the tournament," Echiejile told the Super Eagles Media Team on Instagram Live.

"Most of the players might be tired, from one injury to another injury, but at the end of the day we were able to have a fair tournament. It's not easy in the World Cup to play three games but we had a fair tournament.

"For we the young players it was a good eye opener for us to get to see the world stage of football and it was something great, this is really the big stage.

"Injury didn't allow me as a person to really enjoy the tournament but that is football, you just have to accept it and move on which I did".

Echiejile attended the 2018 World Cup in Russia but was a non-playing substitute in all the three games played by the Super Eagles.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel