Newcastle
forward Shola Ameobi is expecting a stern challenge for the Super
Eagles when they travel to Addis Ababa to clash with Ethiopia’s Walya
Antelopes in the first leg 2014 World Cup qualifying playoff on Sunday.
The Eagles will be bidding for victory
to make Brazil 2014 qualification certain in the return leg fixture in
Calabar on November 16.
Nigeria struggled to beat the Ethiopans,
who denied powerhouse South Africa a chance to reach the 2014 World
Cup qualifying playoffs, 2-0 at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
And Ameobi, who arrived in the country
on Wednesday morning and trained with his colleagues at the Abuja
Stadium in the afternoon, warned that the Walya Antelopes could pose a
threat to Nigeria’s World Cup qualification.
“Everybody has tipped us to win the game
but we must remember that Ethiopia are not pushovers,” the 31-year-old
striker was quoted by MTNFootball.com as saying on Wednesday.
“They topped their group like we topped
ours and they want to be at the World Cup like we want, but we would go
there and give our best for our country ensure that the result is
favourable.”
He said the team were ready for the challenge, saying the Eagles would aim for victory in Addis Ababa.
“We don’t need any extra motivation what
so ever to beat Ethiopia. Every player in this squad knows the
importance of being at the World Cup and I think that is the motivation
we need to do our country proud.”
Ameobi also dismissed worries about his fitness ahead of the showdown, saying he was ready for the clash.
“I worked really hard to ensure that am
fit for this game and I can tell you that am fully fit for the
encounter. I am happy to be here,” he said.
The forward, who was forced to delay his
journey to Nigeria due to a flight hitch in England on Tuesday, said
he had put the development behind him.
“It was very long and tiring but I’m
getting used to it. But I want to go to the World Cup with Nigeria, so I
must make the sacrifice,” he said.
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