Battle of Addis Ababa We’ll make Nigerians proud — Keshi

 

 

 

• Wants Nigerians’ prayers
• Says he is not under any pressure to win in Addis Ababa
Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi has called for prayers from football loving Nigerians for his team to beat the host team, the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia in the first leg, final play-off of the 2014 World Cup African qualifying series holding in Addis Ababa on Sunday.
Keshi, who had a two hour afternoon (from 3-5pm) work out with 18 Super Eagles players yesterday at the main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium told SportingLife after the training that in as much as the team was determined to make Nigerians proud by beating Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, the Eagles still need the full support and prayers of football loving Nigerians to be able to achieve this.

“Nigerians should pray for us to make them very proud. The mind set of the team is to go out there and get a good result for Nigeria and also make ourselves proud. We are the major actors on the field and we need to be able to showcase what we can do and then make Nigeria’s flag fly there. We have big responsibilities and we are aware of this and determined to make Nigerians proud at the end of the match in Addis Ababa”.
He also disclosed that he was in no panic and pressure situation as regards the all important match. He said that as a coach being under pressure is no more excuse to get the needed result but to go out there and grind out the needed victory for his side.
“I am not under pressure to go to Addis Ababa and get a good result against Ethiopia. As a coach what I know exists in any match are three results, a win, a draw and a loss. But I am confident that we will get a good result out there. We are training to get victory against Ethiopia and with the support of all and sundry we will achieve this. So, I am not under any pressure”.
Keshi also said that he was satisfied by the travelling arrangements made by the Nigeria Football Federation. “Yes I am satisfied with the travelling arrangements. We hope to be there within 24-hours period of the game and get into Ethiopia and play and get out. So we are looking good”, he said.