Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, has said that the Eagles have a mission in Ethiopia on Sunday and that is to make Nigerians proud by not losing the first leg 2014 World Cup qualifiers against the Walya Antelopes.
On Sunday, Keshi will lead his team out for the first leg of the final round of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the coach tuned down the pressure by saying he would be satisfied with a good result.
“Any result that makes Nigerians proud will be a good result for me. As long as we don’t lose, any result that comes out is a good result,” Keshi said.
The Nigeria coach also said he is bracing for any gamesmanship from the hosts.
“We just have to keep our calm. No matter how they try to provoke us, we just have to concentrate, leave it out. It’s going to happen; it’s the African way of winning games sometimes.
“We have gone through that as players and now as a coach, so we just have to out it aside as if it’s not there and concentrate on our game.”
Keshi has expressed his satisfaction with Nigeria’s level of preparation for this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia.
The Eagles departed for Ethiopia 1.45am Saturday morning as part of a contingent of 263 persons who comprise of officials, supporters, media practitioners, politicians and other stakeholders.
“I have to acknowledge the Federation with all the plans they are putting together, we are very comfortable with it, and we are in Ethiopia to get result that would make Nigerians proud,” Keshi said.
The Eagles coach hinted that his aim is to avoid defeat in the first-leg encounter, but boasted that the Walya Antelopes lack the pedigree to stop the Super Eagles from going to Brazil next year.
“As long as we don’t lose the match, we would be okay,” the former coach of Togo and Mali said.
“Having experienced the Confederations Cup in Brazil this year, I want to go back there for the 2014 World Cup proper. I don’t think the Ethiopians can stop me.”
