Ethiopia/Nigeria World Cup play-off: It will be tough and tight – Keshi •Jonathan visits Super Eagles at training - TRIBUNE

• Written by  Wale Joseph In Addis Ababa
• Sunday, 13 October 2013 01:12

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday visited the Super Eagles at their training ahead of the first leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup play-off against the Walia Ibex of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa today.

This is just as coach Stephen Keshi says the match will be tough and tight.

President Jonathan is in the Ethiopian capital for the extraordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The Eagles, who had a feel of the pitch of the Addis Ababa National Stadium on Saturday, met the president at the stadium waiting for them.

Accompanied by the Nigerian envoy in Ethiopia and other aides including presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, Jonathan who was received by the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, during his brief discussion with the Eagles, said he had come to wish the players the best of luck.

He said that the players should know that all Nigerians were behind them as they face the Ethiopians today, adding that “I am sure that you will not only qualify for the World Cup, to add up the numbers, but to make an impact at the championship”.

Responding, NFF president, Maigari, who was in the company of Technical Committee Chairman, Barrister Chris Green, General Secretary Musa Amadu, Head, Technical, Emmanuel Ikpeme and board member Shehu Adamu, assured Jonathan that the team would not let the nation down.

Team captain, Vincent Enyeama said the president’s visit was timely and a morale booster, adding that the team would appreciate his concern for the welfare of the team with a good outing.

Meanwhile, Keshi, after the training session said: “The match will be tough and tight, because the Ethiopians are a good side with a good coach, but tomorrow we will try to pull a result which all Nigerians will be proud of.”

About 7,000 Ethiopians watched the Eagles train at 4pm (local time) and it lasted about 45 minutes.

On return to their hotel, the players were seen in a relaxed mood, chatting and joking with one another in readiness for today’s game.