Joseph Yobo will set a new record of six African Nations Cup finals appearances for Nigeria if he is selected for his side's opening game against Burkina Faso in Nelspruit.
Yobo is one of the more experienced players in a new-look squad formed by coach Stephen Keshi following Nigeria's shock at failing to qualify for the 2012 finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
In contrast to Yobo, 17 of his fellow squad members have never played in a Nations Cup finals before, but Yobo believes the mixture of youth and experience will stand his side in good stead.
Yobo said: "I believe in this team and the coaches. We have a lot of young players in the team and a few experienced ones, which tells you this is a good team.
"We started this journey slowly after we did not qualify for the last tournament. I have a lot of experience and we are not under pressure to come and win it, but as we progress our confidence will come."
Burkina Faso are frequent qualifiers for the Nations Cup finals but have never got beyond the group stages with the exception of the 1998 tournament in their homeland, when they finished fourth.
Their Belgian coach, Paul Put, is undaunted by the tough opener but admitted: "We have to win this first match at all costs to give us confidence going forward. It is going to be tough but are ready to play Nigeria."
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