The Super Eagles’ hopes of making the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will be put to the test this weekend in the second leg of the final playoffs.
The Eagles hold the ace with a 1-2 advantage during the first leg played at the National Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The second encounter with the Walya Ibex of Ethiopia will be played at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Though Nigeria is anticipated to qualify for the World Cup tourney, soccer pundits warn that it won’t be an easy ride as the Ethiopians are expected to give their all.
Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi is, however, optimistic that the team would go beyond mere qualification for the event. He stated recently that the Eagles have what it takes to win it all in Brazil 2014: “Nothing is impossible in football; we can win the trophy in Brazil but the immediate task at hand is to qualify first for the World Cup.
“We have not qualified but on the verge of doing so and we must not let down our guards at this crucial moment,” he noted.
Two ex-internationals, Friday Ekpo and Tijani Babangida, cautioned the Eagles against complacency in playing the Ethiopians, noting that Nigeria would be squaring up against a team that has nothing to lose.
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This article was first published on 14th November 2013
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