NFF FEARS NIGERIA AND ETHIOPIA IN WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says that drawing Ethiopia in the World Cup  play-off is dicey but believes the Super Eagles’ history with the Walia Antelopes of Ethiopia will see them through, noting that the NFF will use history as a mirror.

General Secretary of the NFF Barrister Musa Amadu, while reacting to the pairing said: “Yes, we have seen the draw and  we couldn’t have asked for a more convenient  fixture against the backdrop of other tough teams in the line-up, for Ethiopia we are satifisfied and will take things up from there, especially against the backdrop of our previous meetings.”

Amadu, however, cautioned all optimists to be wary of the fact that the Ethiopians are very athletic and physical when they play and as such they will be difficult opponents.

Musa recalled what the Ethiopians did to the Eagles when they were under coach Samson Siasia enroute to the 2012 Nations Cup. “We can never forget what they did to us in Addis  Ababa in 2011 and of course who will ever forget in a hurry how they stretched our team in South Africa during the 2013 Nations Cup? It took Victor Moses’ double penalty kicks to seperate  the two teams.”

On what the NFF is planning to beat the much talked about altitude of the Ethiopians in their home ground, Musa said that apart from other contigencies of planning a friendly with a nation that has similar condition, the NFF has ruled out  going there to acclamatise.

“What we will do is to go there on the day of the match, play and fly out, that way you beat the fatigue associated with altitude,” he said.

Beware of Ethiopia, Elegbeleye warns

Director-General of the National Sports Commission, (NSC) Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye received the news of Nigeria’s pairing with Ethiopia in the play-off of the 2014 World Cup with happiness and heaved a sigh of relief that  the Super Eagles avoided strong football playing nations like Cameroon and Egypt.

Elegbeleye however urged the Stephen Keshi-tutored team to treat the 2014 World Cup play-off against Ethiopia with all the seriousness the two-legged match deserve in order to ensure Nigeria book a place in the finals of the Mundial in Brazil.

He was quick to warn that the Eagles should not underrate the Ethiopians, who  according to him, are a strong side as far as African football is concerned today.

“This pairing is nice if we consider the fact that we were able to avoid big names in African football lilke Cameroon and Egypt but that doesn’t mean that we will stroll past Ethiopia to get the World Cup ticket, no not at all.”

“We all watched how well the Ethiopia played against the Super Eagles in the last group match of  the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa which eventually ended in 2-0 Nigeria’s favour with Victor Moses slotting home the two spot kicks but if not for the individual brilliance of Moses the Ethiopians almost held Nigeria to a stalemate because they were able to absorb all the attacking pressure from the Eagles then.

Don’t underrate Ethiopia —Ogunjobi
Niyi Alebiosu

Former Secretary General, Nigeria Football Association, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi has advised the Super Eagles’ technical crew and the players not to underrate the Ethiopians.

Reacting to the fixture, Ogunjobi though applauded the draw but is of the opinion that the team should not be underrated.

According to the chairman, Osun State Football Association, the Ethiopians team have shown great determination since the World Cup qualifiers commenced and till the last stage have shown that they can spring suprises.

“So I will advise the technical crew and the players not to underrate them and at the same time, they should not give room for complacency, they should go all out and record outright victory because we cannot afford not to be at the World Cup as African champions.”

Speaking further, Ogunjobi said: “All said and done, I have absolute confidence in the team having shown great potential in the qualifying stages, I see no reason why they should lose focus at this stage.”

Ethiopia can’t stop Nigeria —Amiesimaka
Ganiyu Salman

FORMER international Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka (MON) has expressed optimism in the ability of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, saying that facing Ethiopia in the last qualifying stage should not give Nigerians sleepless nights.

The Ethiopians created an upset to top the Group A of the qualifying series with 13 points, two points ahead of South Africa in the group which also had Botswana and the Central African Republic (CAR).

“Every opponent is a potential threat and that is why Ethiopia should not be taken for granted. But on current form, and if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) does not generate unnecessary distractions, soaring over the Ethiopia obstacle should not be much of a challenge. I am very optimistic that Nigeria will qualify for Brazil 2014,” said Amiesimaka, a member of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Green Eagles-winning squad.

Speaking in the same vein, chairman, technical committee of the NFF, Barrister Chris Green said that Ethiopia have to be given utmost respect they deserve having got to this stage.

“It is a fair draw and a tricky one as well, that Ethiopia qualified from the group shows that the team is very good and strong and we have to approach the two-legged game with utmost seriousness. We are not going to take anything for granted. I respect the Ethiopian team and we have to prepare very well for them.

“Whether they drew with South Africa in South Africa and won at home is not a thing to worry about because the strenght of every team differs. We are going to everything humanly possible to pick the ticket and this is by ensuring that we prepare adequately for the two games. The most important is preparation of our team and once that is taken care of, there is no cause for alarm. Yes, every team is a threat but above all we have to show that we are African champions,” said Green, who is also the Chairman of Rivers FA. 

It will be recalled that Ethiopia held South Africa to a 1-1 draw at away before winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in Addis Ababa.

Meanwhile, in the remaining final qualification series pairings, Tunisia will face Cameroon as Ghana confront Egypt while Burkina Faso tackle Algeria with the Ivory Coast facing Senegal.

The first leg of the play-offs will hold from October 11 to 15 while the second leg ties will hold from November 11 to 19 this year.

Nigeria’s World Cup ticket certain —Gara-Gombe
Niyi Alebiosu

Renowned football and sport critic, Ahmed Shuaib Gara-Gombe says playing Ethiopia in the World Cup play-off is as good as Nigeria being at the mundial.

According to the former chairman, Gombe Football Association, the fixture is an interesting one that easily gives the country the Brazil 2014 World Cup without much stress.

Speaking with Tribunesport from Abuja, Gara-Gombe said: “I think we should start preparing for the World Cup proper because I do not see Ethiopia stopping us at this stage, though they could be stubborn trying to prove that they are equally good as our team, but I believe Stephen Keshi’s boys can handle and tame them anytime anyday anywhere”.