Eagles’ Make Or Mar Match: We Can Knock Out Nigeria —Rwanda Coach

As the Super Eagles of Nigeria go into this weekend’s crucial 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Amavubi of Rwanda, Serbian coach of the visiting team, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic, believes his wards are capable of denying Nigeria a place at the tournament.

“The Nigerian team may parade an array of stars, but we can knock Nigeria out, it’s obvious that the pressure is on Coach Stephen Keshi and the Super Eagles, Sredojovic said.

“Our mind is focused on this match with Nigeria, and we have the motivation to go out there and play for a win without any pressure.

“I believe that when a team have almost won a game and lost it in the last seconds due to a mistake as Nigeria did against Malawi in their World Cup qualifier in Blantyre, it can be devastating. That alone gives Rwanda a hope, and it will remain with them psychologically when the Eagles confront us on Saturday” he said.

Keshi himself knows that the match at U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Cross River State, is a make or mar match for Nigeria. He said: “I have told you players to play this match with the mentality to win. Anything short of victory means we are going down together.”

Having played a goalless draw in Kigali during the first leg last February, the Eagles have all to play for knowing that a loss would end their quest to participate at the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup. Nigeria failed to qualify for the last edition of the biannual competition, co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon this year.

Should the Wasps overcome Nigeria, they will now advance to the third qualifying round that brings together qualifiers from the second round and the 16 teams that competed at the Africa Nations Cup finals held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January.

“Last time, we were not quite satisfied with the goal that we scored against Namibia, but we won the game. This time around we want to take it to the next level by ensuring that we score more goals. The players have promised that they will rise up to the occasion,” Keshi said.

By Adebobola  Alawode