Nigeria/Ethiopia: Eagles Will Not Take Ethiopia for Granted in Calabar, Says Keshi
Super Eagles boss, Stephen Keshi has promised
Nigerians that his wards will not be carried away by the 2-1 victory in
Addis Ababa against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia last Sunday but
rather play as if it was the final of the World Cup when both countries
clash in the decisive return leg in Calabar on November 16.
"There is no going to Calabar to relax and think that the ticket is in the pocket already. No, we are going to tackle the Ethiopians like we are playing in the World Cup final," he said.
Speaking at the Saro Maria Hotel in the heart of Addis shortly after
Fenerbahce forward, Emmanuel Emenike's brace earned Nigeria victory in
the first leg of the 2014 World Cup play-off, a relaxed Keshi told
THISDAY that the Ethiopians gave him a scare in the first half.
"The Ethiopians were very good and tactical and that shows how good their coach is, but we were the more experienced side and it showed at the end of the day. They had their chances in the first half which they couldn't take. I feel relieved coming out of the first leg victorious," observed Keshi who is on the verge of winning another World Cup ticket in his blooming coaching career.
He did it with Togo but was denied the opportunity of leading the team to the summit of football. Keshi however gave kudos to his players who rose to the occasion after the break. He said the impact of the Eagles' second half substitutes was massive as it had immediate impact on the match and eventually gave Nigeria the upper hand.
Nosa Igiebor and Brown Ideye replaced Victor Moses and Nnamdi Oduamadi in the second half to turn around the game in favour of Nigeria.
The Eagles supremo was enthralled by the massive patriotism showed by the Ethiopians in the World Cup play-off first leg.
"As a player and coach, I have never seen the kind of patriotism put up by the Ethiopians, never. There green and yellow colours everywhere you go in the city was intimidating. When we entered the mainbowl, I said waoh! Their support for the Walya Antelopes was total," remarked Keshi who last February won the Africa Cup of Nations as the second former player and coach to do so in the continent.
"There is no going to Calabar to relax and think that the ticket is in the pocket already. No, we are going to tackle the Ethiopians like we are playing in the World Cup final," he said.
"The Ethiopians were very good and tactical and that shows how good their coach is, but we were the more experienced side and it showed at the end of the day. They had their chances in the first half which they couldn't take. I feel relieved coming out of the first leg victorious," observed Keshi who is on the verge of winning another World Cup ticket in his blooming coaching career.
He did it with Togo but was denied the opportunity of leading the team to the summit of football. Keshi however gave kudos to his players who rose to the occasion after the break. He said the impact of the Eagles' second half substitutes was massive as it had immediate impact on the match and eventually gave Nigeria the upper hand.
Nosa Igiebor and Brown Ideye replaced Victor Moses and Nnamdi Oduamadi in the second half to turn around the game in favour of Nigeria.
The Eagles supremo was enthralled by the massive patriotism showed by the Ethiopians in the World Cup play-off first leg.
"As a player and coach, I have never seen the kind of patriotism put up by the Ethiopians, never. There green and yellow colours everywhere you go in the city was intimidating. When we entered the mainbowl, I said waoh! Their support for the Walya Antelopes was total," remarked Keshi who last February won the Africa Cup of Nations as the second former player and coach to do so in the continent.
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