An intake air control apparatus for controlling an intake valve which regulates intake air to a vehicular internal combustion engine wherein the amount of injected fuel corresponds to the intake air quantity regulated by the intake valve, the intake air control apparatus comprising: a variable valve operating mechanism (5, 6) configured to vary a valve lift of the intake valve and to vary a valve phase angle of the intake valve; and a controller for controlling the variable valve operating mechanism (5, 6); wherein the controller calculates a first target value corresponding to a combination of the valve lift and the valve phase angle which is desired at a current engine operating condition; wherein when an accelerator is in a fully closed position, the controller calculates a reacceleration estimated value corresponding to a combination of the valve lift and the valve phase angle based on an engine rotational speed and an engine operating load corresponding to a hypothetical accelerator opening value and a hypothetical required load estimated to occur upon reacceleration; wherein the controller determines whether or not a minimum clearance between the intake valve and a piston would become less than a permissible value during variation of the valve lift and the valve phase angle from the first target value toward the reacceleration estimated value; wherein the controller calculates a second target value corresponding to a combination of the valve lift and the valve phase angle at which the engine torque produced is equivalent to the torque produced at the first target value and at which the minimum clearance remains greater than or equal to the permissible value during variation of the valve lift and the valve phase angle from the second target value toward the reacceleration estimated value; and wherein, prior to reacceleration, the controller sets the first target value as a control target value, and then switches the control target value from the first target value to the second target value when it is determined that the minimum clearance would become less than the permissible value during variation of the valve lift and the valve phase angle from the first target value toward the reacceleration estimated value. a variable valve operating mechanism (5, 6) configured to vary a valve lift of the intake valve and to vary a valve phase angle of the intake valve; and a controller for controlling the variable valve operating mechanism (5, 6); wherein the controller calculates a first target value corresponding to a combination of the valve lift and the valve phase angle which is desired at a current engine operating condition; wherein when an accelerator is in a fully closed position, the controller calculates a reacceleration estimated value corresponding to a combination of the valve lift and the valve phase angle based on an engine rotational speed and an engine operating load corresponding to a hypothetical accelerator opening value and a hypothetical required load estimated to occur upon reacceleration; wherein the controller determines whether or not a minimum clearance between the intake valve and a piston would become less than a permissible value during variation of the valve lift and the valve phase angle from the first target value toward the reacceleration estimated value; wherein the controller calculates a second target value corresponding to a combination of the valve lift and the valve phase angle at which the engine torque produced is equivalent to the torque produced at the first target value and at which the minimum clearance remains greater than or equal to the permissible value during variation of the valve lift and the valve phase angle from the second target value toward the reacceleration estimated value; and wherein, prior to reacceleration, the controller sets the first target value as a control target value, and then switches the control target value from the first target value to the second target value when it is determined that the minimum clearance would become less than the permissible value during variation of the valve lift and the valve phase angle from the first target value toward the reacceleration estimated value.