OCTOBER 10, 2013
Daniel Amokachi
Super Eagles assistant coach Daniel Amokachi is backing Nigeria for victory against Ethiopia in their first leg 2014 World Cup qualifying playoff in Addis Abba on Sunday.
Amokachi believes the Walya Antelopes can’t withstand the calibre of players Stephen Keshi has invited for the encounter.
The return match takes place in Calabar on November 16 and the aggregate winners qualify for Brazil 2014.
Victor Moses converted from the spot twice to help Nigeria beat plucky Ethiopia 2-0 in their group stage match at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on January 29, but the Walya Antelopes maintain they have learned from the defeat and are ready to deny the Eagles a chance to play at the World Cup for the fifth time.
The North-East Africans are also looking to take advantage of the high altitude of their country to pick up home victory and travel to Calabar to defend in the return leg fixture.
But Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner Amokachi on Wednesday dismissed the Walya Antelopes, saying the Eagles would show their class again.
“We have a lot of quality players in Nigeria,” the former Everton forward told reporters in Abuja.
“The likes of Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa and Uche Nwofor are players that can make the difference.
“The good thing is that we work collectively as a team, because if the team is good the strikers will get more passes and score goals.”
Meanwhile, Keshi insists the African champions are not under pressure to win in Addis Ababa.
“We are still working with information from the Ethiopian side and we will not be discouraged. We will have to keep our calm, no matter how they try to provoke us.
“Attempts to frustrate the team must happen, because it is the African way of winning a game.
“Sometimes, they bother your life from the airport. We have come through that as a player and now as a coach, but we have to pretend as if it is not happening.”
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