Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echeijile, has said Nigeria will not depend on their past records against Ethiopia in next month’s World Cup playoffs.
MTNFootball.com reports that Nigeria enjoys a favourable record against Ethiopia having won four, drawn two and lost only once to the East Africans.
But Sporting Braga defender Elderson said what would matter most when both clash again next month would be what they produce on the pitch.
“Records are always there, but we will just go all out to do our best so we could be in Brazil next year,” maintained the left back on his official website www.elderson3.com
He said the Eagles cannot afford to underrate Ethiopia even though most Nigeria fans have already given the Eagles the ticket to Brazil 2014.
“I can understand the belief the fans now have in the Eagles, but we cannot afford to underrate any team especially at this stage of the qualifiers,” he said.
“What is certain is that they will come with everything at us because they also want to be in Brazil for the World Cup.
From our match at the AFCON, they showed they are a good team. They have speed and like to keep the ball. They are tactically not an easy team to come up against.”
The high altitude of Addis Ababa has been widely seen as a major factor that could swing the first leg in favour of the home team.
“It could be a problem (high altitude),” admitted Elderson.
“But we are up for everything that will come up against us because we want to be in Brazil next year.”
The Braga star would also back Ghana to beat Egypt in possibly the toughest-looking World Cup playoffs in the African zone.
“It will be a very tough match for both teams,” he said.
“But I will be supporting Ghana because I have some friends in the team – Asamoah Gyan and John Boye. We were together at Rennes in France.”
