We can’t rate Antelopes with AFCON 2013 clash

Super eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has said that he will not use the victory over the Antelopes of Ethiopia in the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup as the yardstick for the World Cup qualifier playoff this weekend in Addis Ababa. Speaking during a parley with journalists in Abuja, Keshi argued that the playoff is an entirely different ball game, disclosing that he would throw everything into the game to leave Ethiopia with at least a draw result.

His words: “I’m not really thinking about making history in Ethiopia, but about leading Nigeria to the World Cup in 2014. I have to even put behind me, the victory against Ethiopia in the Nations Cup because it is a different ball game entirely.
“I want you to know that every game has its own spirit and approach. We have to go extra mile to prepare ourselves and wait for the outcome of the match in Ethiopia,” he said.
On the reason behind the training under hot weather in Nigeria, Keshi said: “We have to train under hot weather in Nigeria because, that is the only way we can survive in Ethiopia. Don’t forget the high altitude there, for us to prevail against them, we have to train under hot weather.”
Asked if he is comfortable with the travelling arrangements, Keshi said: “If we have to acclimatise, we would have been in the country since two weeks, but you know that it is not possible because of my players in Europe. We have many professionals that their clubs cannot give that comfort.
“So, we have to make do with whatever arrangements NFF is putting in place. I know we are on the right track. We want to get the result that will make Nigerians proud. As long as we don’t lose the game, any other result is comfortable,” he noted.


The Sun