Former Nigerian winger, Folorunsho Okenla has said the present crop of Super Eagles will have themselves to blame if they fail to clinch the ticket for Brazil 2014 World Cup against their Ethiopian counterparts, the Walya Antelopes on Saturday.
Both sides are expected to decide who take the automatic ticket to the global football fiesta in the final qualifying duel at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar. Nigeria enjoy a 2-1 advantage from the first fixture in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Okenla said the side have not been privileged to occupy the driver’s seat as they do at the moment in the past three World Cup campaigns.
“Nigeria has not enjoyed the driver’s seat as it’s the case at the moment in the past three World Cup campaigns, it’s either we’re banking on another country to defeat another opponents so that we’ll qualify or we’re in a-must-win game tussle with another stubborn side.
“Right now we’re comfortably sitting on the driver’s seat looking for no further encouragement from anybody but our determination and resolve to participate at the global fiesta to grab the Brazil 2014 ticket.
“The players have their foot strongly rooted in Brazil 2014 World Cup and will have themselves to blame should anything go wrong in the last fixture against Ethiopia on Saturday.
“That their opponents have been together for a long time is inconsequential and shouldn’t be an excuse or worries to us, our players are professionals who’re deemed to be training and playing regularly for their respective clubs.
“The players know what to do at the appointed time to follow up their brilliant form in Addis Ababa to Calabar not only defeat the Ethiopians emphatically but also to stamp our authority as African champions,” said the former Birmingham City star to supersport.com.
Okenla will want the Fenerbahce goal poacher, Emmanuel Emenike to anchor the Eagles’ attack against their East African opponents on Saturday.
“I pray Emmanuel Emenike gets the nod to lead Eagles’ attack against Ethiopia on Saturday, he’s our best arrow man at the moment and if he hits precision on match day Ethiopians would have been finished before they know what hit them,” said Okenla who won silver with the Green Eagles at Maroc’88.
