Nwanu fears for Eagles

Super Eagles celebrating 2013 AFCON victory

Ex-international Chidi Nwanu is disturbed by the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to transport the Super Eagles to Ethiopia 24 hours before the  first leg  2014 World Cup qualifying playoff against the Walya Antelopes in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

The former Nigeria defender fears the Eagles could struggle to pick up a good result from the encounter to make Brazil 2014 World Cup qualification certain in the return leg fixture in Calabar on November 16.

The Eagles will battle  the high altitude and a bumpy pitch at the  Addis Ababa Stadium  and former Anderlecht defender Nwanu rejected the NFF’s travel plan  for the encounter, saying the national football body should have arranged for the  squad to arrive in Ethiopia days before the clash.

“I still don’t understand the reason why the team will be leaving for Ethiopia 24 hours to a crucial match such as the World Cup qualifier,” the ex-Belgium-based player, who represented Nigeria at the USA ’94 World Cup, was quoted by Goal as saying on Thursday.

“The best option for the Eagles would have been to arrive in  Addis Ababa a  few days to the game so as to get used to the weather.

“It is not a good decision by the NFF to have the players in Ethiopia on Saturday when the game is fixed for Sunday.

“When will they have a feel of the turf and what impact will the weather have on them?

“A shabby programme and a lack of adequate preparation will be of no good to Nigeria. We need to do more to get the desired result. When there is no labour, there is no sweat.”

However, the  former Beveren star urged the Eagles   to play the game of their lives to ensure victory  in Addis Ababa  and brighten their World Cup qualification chances.

“I however know that Nigeria’s players always rise up to the occasion when least expected. I am tipping the Eagles to get a good result in Addis Ababa and then wrap up the proceedings when the Ethiopians visit us in Nigeria.

“I want to tell them to stick together and they should close their eyes and play their best. They should let the ball do the running and ensure that they conserve their energies for the latter part of the encounter.”