2014WCQ: Eagles set to bash Ethiopia for ticket, Maigari’s 214th match
Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia will be the 214th match of the Aminu Maigari administration at the Nigeria Football Federation.
And Maigari, whose administration has leapt to the fore as the most successful NFF team in history, says victory is guaranteed for Nigeria’s flag to fly in Brazil next year summer.
“I am confident that the Eagles will overpower the Antelopes at our beloved U. J. Esuene Stadium on Saturday. It has been a 17-month journey from the time we defeated Namibia in Calabar in June 2012, but
a happy ending makes it worthwhile for everyone involved.”
In its 38-and-half months of existence, the Maigari administration has played 213 matches, winning 124 and drawing 32, while losing the rest.
Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes were scheduled to fly into Calabar direct from Addis Ababa aboard a chartered aircraft on Thursday, and all arrangements have been made for the team at its preferred Channel View
Hotel, while the NFF has perfected security, transport and other necessary arrangements for the visitors.
Leading 2-1 from the first leg, the African champions are favourites to secure one of the continent’s five tickets to football’s biggest houseparty, at the final whistle by Gambian referee, Bakary Papa
Gassama.
Cross River State number one man, Senator Liyel Imoke, CON and the Honourable Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, as well as the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji M. D. Abubakar, Director General
of National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Senate sports committee chairman, Senator Adamu Gumba, House of Reps’s sports committee chairman, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, members of the Cross River
State cabinet, captains of industry and the full compliment of NFF Executive Committee and Management are expected to grace the big match.
Already, Governor Imoke has invited the world-conquering Golden Eaglets, who spent the better part of their camping programme in Calabar, to be part of the occasion.
Officials have also confirmed that the glittering FIFA U-17 World Cup that the Eaglets won in Abu Dhabi on Friday would be on display at the State Box on Saturday.
