After winning the African Cup of Nations, Nigeria is looking to regain its international stature at the Confederations Cup.

The Super Eagles have re-emerged as an African power after internal squabbles clouded the team and the federation, and contributed to a near 20-year slump.

In Brazil, where the national team will face Tahiti, Uruguay and world champion Spain in Group B, Nigeria's survival will depend on coach Stephen Keshi's ability to pull together strong international players and emerging local talent.

Keshi has been upbeat ahead of the World Cup warm-up tournament, a confidence bolstered by Nigeria's 2-2 draw with Mexico on May 31 in a friendly in the United States.

Some initially criticized Keshi, who took over the team in 2011, for bringing too many inexperienced local players to the squad. But players like midfielder Sunday Mba, who scored crucial goals at the African Cup, showed the talent home-based players have in Nigeria.

Although likely missing its top two strikers — Chelsea forward Victor Moses and Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike are injured — Mba and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel could anchor a young, forward-looking Nigerian team in Brazil.

"We showed good stuff against Mexico despite missing a number of players," Keshi said.

However, Keshi remains a wild card and his place in charge of his country, which he also captained to its last African Cup triumph in 1994, has never been truly settled, even after the 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the African Cup final in February. Immediately after that match, Keshi said he faxed a resignation letter to the Nigeria Football Federation, angry over the way officials tried to fire him before the quarterfinal match against Ivory Coast.

Within a day, the federation said Keshi would stay as he arrived home to Africa's most populous country as a champion. Still, dissent remains among players like Peter Odemwingie, who was dropped from the squad ahead of the African Cup, and Emenike, whose love-hate relationship with the national team continues.

Aminu Maigari, the president of Nigeria's football federation, said all the problems have been put aside for the Confederations Cup, Nigeria's chance to show it has returned to the top levels of international football.

"Keshi and I have been talking and even when I am not with the team physically they know I am there in spirit and we are set for a touchy month of June where we hope to make Nigerians happy," Maigari said.

Keshi said his coaching staff has "a new understanding to take Nigerian football to the highest levels."

For the Confederations Cup, Mikel already has confirmed he will be available, an important boost with the expected absence of Moses and Emenike.

"I love to represent my country," Mikel said.

Keshi's Nigerians hope to regain the reputation they had in the 1990s as Africa's top team and a dangerous opponent in international competitions. It remains an uphill battle though, as some worry the team could collapse the way it did at the 2010 World Cup, where it didn't win a game.

It also has had to factor into its planning the next round of World Cup qualifying in Africa before the long trip across to the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

For Nigerian football, however, the sentiment remains that problems and distractions are never too far away.