By Steve Oma-Ofozor / Lagos
President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Sani Ndanusa, has enjoined the Super Eagles to go for an outright victory in Ethiopia in order to make the return leg a mere formality.
Ndanusa, who is also the President of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), dwelling on Nigeria’s preparations ahead of the 2014 World Cup play-off billed for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in a radio (AIT/BBC) sports programme over the weekend in Lagos, affirmed that Keshi must be focused for the task to be realised.
According to the former Minister of Sports: “My advice for the Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, is that he must be focused to ensure that they win in Addis Ababa. That is the only way the Eagles can be comfortable at home and avoid pressure.
“If they are able to win the first leg in Addis Ababa, the second leg will become mere formality and the Eagles will play with much ease and the ticket at that point is guaranteed,” he said.
Commenting further, Ndanusa warned that the team must avoid complacency. This he said against the backdrop of the present scintillating performance of some Eagles’ key players in their various clubs which football analysts say will be a big boost to the team ahead of the encounter.
Also speaking on the crucial encounter during the programme, sports enthusiasts admonished that the Eagles should adopt the Nigerian tactical pattern of football that demands more of physical play during the game, noting that the Ethiopians have a better team approach in their style.
“The Super Eagles must not play the European style of football, they should adopt our Nigerian style which involves strength. That way, they can easily dislodge the Ethiopians who play beautiful team football and are very fast.”
However, the latest development from the Ethiopians’ camp revealed that they have arranged for a friendly with Zambia’s Chipolopolo, ahead of the play-off against Nigeria come October 13, 2013, even as some Eagles players have boasted, Ethiopia is not a threat.
Source: Daily Independent (Nigeria)