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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Nigeria Vs Ethiopia On Sunday 27th March @ 7pm Nig Time

Match: Nigeria vs Ethiopia
(Gabon & Equatorial Guinea 2012 African Cup Of Nations Qualifier)

Venue: Abuja National Stadium, Abuja, FCT.

Date: Sunday, March 27

Time of Match: 7pm Nigerian Time



Super Eagles of Nigeria

Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia

Our ''darling'' team, the Super Eagles will be taking on the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in a Gabon-Equatorial Guinea AFCON 2012 qualifying match on Sunday 27th March @ the Abuja National Stadium, FCT.

Although this will be the Super Eagles third match of the 2012 AFCON Qualification series, it'd be Siasia's first competitive match as coach of the National team and he's said he'd like to get off to a winning start and will be satisfied with just grabbing the 3 points on Sunday. . .but will a narrow victory be enough for the vociferous Nigerian soccer fans? 

The Super Eagles are three points behind group leaders Guinea after a 1-0 stumble in Conakry in October and know they do not have any more margins for error if they are to qualify for the tournament finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January 2012.

This has perhaps prompted the the early arrival to camp of the invited players cos as at Tuesday (5 days to the match), all the invitees had hit camp in Abuja and were busy sweating it out in training to get a starting shirt to play on Sunday. Players in camp are:

Goal keepers - Dele Aiyenugba, Sunday Rotimi
Defenders - Dele Adeleye, Joseph Yobo, Ambrose Efe, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Taiye Taiwo, Olubayo Adefemi
Midfielders - Mikel Obi, Julius Ubido, Joel Obi, Kalu Uche
Forwards - Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Obinna Nsofor, Victor Moses, Obafemi Martins, Ikechukwu Uche, Victor Anichebe, Peter Utaka, Fengor Ogude, Solomon Okoronkwo

Ethiopia are the underdogs of this match-up as they're ranked 124th while the the Super Eagles are ranked 39th. Ethiopia like Nigeria has 3 points from it's previous two matches but the Nigerians edge them with a better goal difference. Last time both teams met was in 1993 in a USA '94 World Cup qualifier with the Super Eagles winning 4 nil.

Already, the Ethiopians are in town and their coach - Ifem Onuora, a  Briton of Nigerian descent who has a UEFA Pro coaching license (the highest coaching qualification in football) has said his team is approaching sunday's match with all seriousness and looking to beat the Super Eagles.

Match will be officiated by Tunisians - with Slim Jedidi in the centre to be assisted by Bechir Hassani (1st Assistant referee), Mohsen Ben Salem (2nd Assistant referee) and Yosr Saadallah acting as the 4th official/alternate referee. Mr. Hesham Salah from Egypt will act as the Match Commissioner. 

The match will be played under floodlights and Kick-off is set for 19:00 hours (7pm) Nigerian time and it'd be on NTA, AIT and hopefully some cable/satellite tv stations too.

So, what do you think? Can the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia defeat the Super Eagles or is it just the an empty boast? Drop your comments, opinions, predictions etc and lets know what you think. . . . .

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