We have not qualified yet – Keshi
Calabar - Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has warned his players against a careless attitude as the team prepares to play Ethiopia, saying Nigeria is not yet in Brazil.
Nigeria and Ethiopia will clash on Saturday in the return leg of the 2014 World Cup playoff at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Despite a 2-1 lead from the first leg played in Addis Ababa, Keshi reiterated the fact that the game will be played as if there was never a first leg encounter.
“We have not qualified but on the verge of doing so and we must not let down our guards at this crucial moment”, he said in a statement.
When asked whether Nigeria can win the World Cup in Brazil, looking beyond Ethiopia, he said it was a possibility. “Nothing is impossible in football and we can win in Brazil but the immediate task at hand is to qualify first."
Emmanuel Emenike, who plays for Fernabahce in Turkey and Lazio of Italy’s Ogenyi Onazi, were the last two players to make it to the Transcorp hotel camp of the national team on Wednesday to the relief of Head Coach Stephen Keshi and his crew.
As preparation heightens for the final round, Keshi said he was initially angry at the late arrival of the players but reasoned that it was not their fault as connecting flights from Lagos to Calabar and Abuja to Calabar can be a problem.
“I am relieved now that all the players are here and we can start serious preparation for the game against Ethiopia, which is still a threat because they are a very good side and have been together for up to five years unlike our team which is relatively young and new”, he said.
Nigeria and Ethiopia will clash on Saturday in the return leg of the 2014 World Cup playoff at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Despite a 2-1 lead from the first leg played in Addis Ababa, Keshi reiterated the fact that the game will be played as if there was never a first leg encounter.
“We have not qualified but on the verge of doing so and we must not let down our guards at this crucial moment”, he said in a statement.
When asked whether Nigeria can win the World Cup in Brazil, looking beyond Ethiopia, he said it was a possibility. “Nothing is impossible in football and we can win in Brazil but the immediate task at hand is to qualify first."
Emmanuel Emenike, who plays for Fernabahce in Turkey and Lazio of Italy’s Ogenyi Onazi, were the last two players to make it to the Transcorp hotel camp of the national team on Wednesday to the relief of Head Coach Stephen Keshi and his crew.
As preparation heightens for the final round, Keshi said he was initially angry at the late arrival of the players but reasoned that it was not their fault as connecting flights from Lagos to Calabar and Abuja to Calabar can be a problem.
“I am relieved now that all the players are here and we can start serious preparation for the game against Ethiopia, which is still a threat because they are a very good side and have been together for up to five years unlike our team which is relatively young and new”, he said.
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