Ethiopian altitude, pitch can’t stop Eagles – Egwuekwe

Despite concerns ranging from high altitude to a bad pitch at the 35,000-capacity Addis Ababa Stadium, Nigeria defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe, says the  Super Eagles “have a big heart” to weather the storm in their first leg final African qualifier for the Brazil 2014 World Cup on Sunday.

While Nigeria are out to achieve a favourable result at an altitude of 2,400m in Addis Ababa, the Eagles also have the rough and bumpy pitch of the stadium and highly fanatical fans to contend with.

The Ethiopia Football Association has also moved the kick-off time from 4pm to 2pm as the North-East Africans try to apply all tactics to emerge victorious in the first leg, but Egwuekwe is confident that won’t pose any problems for the African champions.

“Some of us play in the domestic league, so there is no big deal about all we’ve heard (the Ethiopians doing). I believe our boys have the heart to withstand whatever we see in Addis Ababa on Sunday,” the Warri Wolves captain, who arrived at the Eagles camp in Abuja  on Monday, told our correspondent on the telephone.

“I am focused just like every other player and I believe we can make it. Some of us are aiming to play our first World Cup and we will do everything to qualify.”

But the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner admits that the Walya Antelopes are not going to be easy nuts to crack.

He added, “In today’s football, there are no more big teams. The Ethiopians have a very good side. At the 2013 AFCON, it took us 80 minutes before we scored our first goal against them. Even though we won 2-0, it was not an easy match for us.”

The towering centre-back has to contend with Europe-based Godfrey Oboabona, Francis Benjamin and James Okwuosa for a place in the starting line-up on Sunday.

“I’m not the coach; my duty is to do my best and leave the rest for the selectors,” Egwuekwe said.