World Cup Qualifier: Nigeria To Play Ethiopia

The Super Eagles will have the onerous task of facing the Walya Antelopes in the play-off on the road to Brazil 2014, as Nigeria were been drawn to face Ethiopia in the play-off for Brazil 2014 World Cup on yesterday.

The first leg matches will be played between October, 11through 15 while the second leg will be played between November, 15 through 19.

The Super Eagles will travel to Addis Ababa for the first leg while the return leg will be played in Nigeria in November.

Other draws made on in Cairo will see Cote D’Ivoire face Senegal while Ghana will face Egypt and Tunisia are drawn against Cameroon. The last draw will see Burkina Faso play against Algeria.

The matches will be played on a knockout basis with the winning five teams going on to represent Africa in Brazil.

Meanwhile, The former coach of the national team Christian Chukwu has urged the country to prepare well for their double-header against Ethiopia in the 2014 World Cup play-offs.

Chukwu who captained Nigeria to their 1980 Africa Cup of Nations win said that the draw favours the Super Eagles who have been doing well so far.

“It’s a good fixture for us. Our preparation has been going on well and we should continue like this until we get to Brazil. We need to add one or two friendlies with countries that have altitude like Ethiopia. Kenya has the same climate, so it could be good,” Chukwu said.

Ethiopia have seen a resurgence in their football since returning to the Africa Cup of Nations this year after a 31 year absence. The Antelopes trumped South Africa on their way to the final qualifying stage where they will now meet the Super Eagles for the second time this year after losing 2-0 in the last group game of the AFCON in January.