Former Super Eagles' coach, Christian Chukwu, says that although the team's opponent in the African play-offs for the final qualification for Brazil 2014 World Cup could be said not to pose a serious threat to the Stephen Keshi- tutored side, but there is the need for the team to play the Ethiopians with all seriousness to avoid a major upset in the qualifiers. The Super Eagles were on Monday drawn against Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in the final qualifier for the World Cup.
They will be hosted by the East Africans between 11-15 October, 2013 in the first leg, while the second leg comes up in Nigeria between 15-19, November, 2013.
Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent, Chukwu noted that the Ethiopians have improved greatly under Coach Sewnet Bishaw since Nigeria beat them by 2-0 at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa and will be out to prove a point against the African champions.
According to him, there is the need for Keshi and his technical crew to understand that the first leg in Addis Ababa will be very tough considering that the country is a high altitude nation and as such everything must be done to ensure the team gets at least a point in the Ethiopian capital.
"I am happy that the Super Eagles got a good pairing in the play-offs for the Brazil 2014 final World Cup qualifiers, but there is the need for the Eagles not to go to sleep or underrate the Ethiopians because doing so could be catastrophic.
"The Super Eagles should bear in mind that there are no more minnows in African football and when one considers the present form of the Ethiopians who qualified for the final play-offs, one will appreciate the tremendous improvement the team has undergone since after the 2013 Nations Cup," Chukwu said.
"It is also necessary for the NFF to understand that playing countries with high altitude is not always easy and as such they must ensure the team travelsto the East African country on time to enable them acclimatise before the match as that is the only way they can put up a good performance against their opponents," added the former Green Eagles captain.
The former Chief Coach of Harambee Stars of Kenya while expressing confidence that the Super Eagles has what it takes to qualify Nigeria for the world cup, advised the players to approach the game with the same zeal they prosecuted all the other qualifying matches as that is the only way to ensure victory against the Ethiopians.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles striker, Henry Nwosu, has advised the team not to see themselves as already in Brazil because the Walia Antelopes are capable of stopping them from going to the World Cup.
"African football has come of age and when one considers how the Ethiopians topped their group in the qualifiers, it becomes necessary for the Super Eagles to take them more serious and ensure they pick the maximum points.
"They should understand that if an Island nation like Cape Verde could stop Cameroun from participating at the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup then nothing is impossible in football," the former Golden Eaglets' coach affirmed.
National Mirror