The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has stated that the planned early kick-off by the Ethiopia Football Federation for the first leg of the 2014 World Cup play-off in Addis Ababa won’t in anyway affect the Super Eagles of Nigeria who are primed to do everything possible to pick the World Cup ticket.
Ethiopia host the Super Eagles on Sunday, October 13, in a first leg World Cup playoff to next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Reports have suggested the match will be played from 2pm Ethiopian time.
“The early kick-off will not have any adverse effect on our team,” maintained NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu.
“We believe it will be a game between 11 players on one side and 11 on the other side and the best team will win on the day.”
Ethiopia have had a proposed match date of October 20 rejected by world football governing body FIFA as it does not fall within the FIFA window.
Officials said this was another ploy by Ethiopia to see if they could make it difficult for Nigeria to get their Europe-based stars released for the match.
Both teams played out a 2-2 draw when they last clashed in Addis Ababa two years ago in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Star-studded Nigeria needed a last-gasp equaliser to get a result on a day they struggled with the conditions against a highly inspired Walya Antelopes.
