Ex-international Benson Edema has written off Ethiopia's chances of qualifying for the FUFA World Cup in Brazil.
The Eastern African nation have been paired to face African champions, the Super Eagles in the final playoffs for the 2014 soccer showpiece and despite causing the ouster of South Africa from the qualifying race and being amongst the last 10 standing teams on the continent, Edema insists that the Ethiopians pose no serious obstacle to Nigeria's bid of clinching a World Cup ticket in November.
As a seeded team, the Eagles have the advantage of playing the second leg of the playoffs at home. The first leg holds in the period of October 11-15 in Addis Ababa while the reverse fixture in Nigeria comes up around November 15-19.
"This is about the easiest draw that I have seen in recent years in our road to qualify for the World Cup. It is just too easy to believe that we are playing Ethiopia but that s the makeup of draws. It is either easy or very difficult. And fortunately for us, we are playing against the easiest side of the lot", Edema told Sports Vanguard.
Continuing, the 1983 Flying Eagles star said "we should thank our stars that we are playing Ethiopia because it could have been a different kettle of fish if we were drawn to face any Cameroon and Senegal. Then we would have appreciated the more why we should thank our stars for this lucky draw.
"We have a crop of players who are determined to fight for their place in the World Cup. It is not Ethiopia that would stop them from reaching Brazil 2014. Certainly not. I see us beating them in their country and in Calabar, which has become a fortress for us", added Edema.
He urged Coach Stephen Keshi to stick the winning team when Eagles confront Ethiopia next month.
"This is not the time to start changing plan and players. Keshi must feature the players who earned him victory at the Nations Cup and have been steadfast in honouring the call to national duty all this while if we are qualify for the World Cup finals", said Edema
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