The Manchester United target enhanced his reputation by almost single-handedly frustrating the Super Eagles in a drab goalless draw.

The result was enough to give England a last 16 pairing with Denmark on Saturday, with Sweden finishing level with Argentina to top the group.

It also means second favourites Argentina follow holders France out of the competition at the opening stage and heightens hope that England may yet return from the Far East as world

champions.

In a largely disappointing contest, Paul Scholes came closest to scoring with a vicious first half shot which Vincent Enyeama tipped onto a post two minutes before the break.

Substitute Teddy Sheringham also wasted a good chance late on, but Ferdinand deserves the plaudits for an impressive display which denied Nigeria when the Africans were in the ascendancy.

Eriksson had made just one enforced change from the side which defeated Argentina on Friday,

with Trevor Sinclair starting for the injured Owen Hargreaves.

In contrast, Nigeria had five new faces after successive narrow defeats which ensured an early flight home against pre-tournament expectations.

It was the Africans though who looked to have the greater continuity in the opening stages.

England were in hesitant mood, not quite sure whether to go forward in search of a goal or keep things tight at the back and keep the clean sheet which would give them a place in the last 16.

As a result, they conceded territory and possession to Nigeria, with midfield string-puller Jay Jay Okocha dictating play from a central position.

However, whenever Nigeria threatened, Ferdinand was generally on hand to tidy up the danger, although even he would have been in trouble had Julius Aghahowa headed Ifeanyi Udeze’s floated far post cross into the six-yard box rather than back towards the penalty spot.

Aghahowa was also found wanting when David Seaman spilled an Okocha free-kick at his near post, Sol Campbell pressurising the Nigerian striker into lamely shooting wide from an impossible angle.

England were struggling then, with Ashley Cole again struggling with his defensive duties.

Ironically, Cole and full-back partner Danny Mills had looked England’s most potent attacking threats in the first half hour and it took a Michael Owen run from deep to spark the rest of the team into life.

The Liverpool striker - starved of possession - collected the ball in midfield, raced past Joseph Yobo then produced a shot which might have worried 19-year-old goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had it not flicked off Yobo’s foot.

Amazingly, England were denied a corner by American referee Brian Hall, and they also finished empty handed two minutes from the break when Paul Scholes came closest to breaking the deadlock with his thunderbolt effort which rebounded off a post .

Enyeama, who had looked weak on any type of high ball, reacted quickly to find the slightest of touches to deflect the goalbound effort onto the woodwork, justifying his surprise selection.

Eriksson resisted the temptation to make changes at the interval but it was Nigeria who started brightly after the break.

Sol Campbell sold Ferdinand short with a weak pass and danger man Aghahowa nipped in to seize possession and race into the box.

However, the Shakhtar Donetsk striker couldn’t produce a shot with his left foot and after cutting inside Ferdinand, saw the space disappear amid a crowd of England defenders and was robbed.

Ferdinand whipped the ball away from Aghahowa’s feet again when the Super Eagles threatened but Beckham couldn’t take advantage at the other end, firing a free-kick over the top after Sinclair had been bundled over.

Once again Ferdinand was called on to deny Aghahowa a scoring chance before England moved the ball upfield and Heskey produced a cross which Owen just failed to reach as he slid in.

Sheringham was thrown on for Heskey midway through the second period, with Eriksson clearly hoping the veteran Tottenham man could give England’s attacking play a more measured approach.

There was no immediate sign of a change in tempo, with Nigeria continuing to force the pace, leaving England to threaten on brief forays forward.

Yobo fired a free-kick harmlessly over the bar not long after Scholes had driven his way into the opposition penalty area.

Scholes then inexplicably rolled a quick free-kick harmlessly into the penalty area while Beckham was preparing to produce one of his specials.

Sheringham volleyed over from a good position after Owen had flicked Cole’s cross into his path but it was to be Owen’s last involvement as Darius Vassell was given his chance 14 minutes from time.

But as Nigeria’s threat finally started to wane, the game petered out with Wayne Bridge coming on to relieve Ashley Cole at left-back, and as the seconds counted down, England were through.