Super Eagles left back, Elderson Echiejile has admitted that high altitude in Addis Ababa could be a problem when Nigeria and Ethiopia clash in the first leg qualifier of the World Cup play off on October 15.
Addis Ababa is the third highest capital city in the world and visiting teams have always found it difficult to cope with the home team due to the 8,300ft high altitude as players are easily fatigued.
“It (high altitude)could be a problem,” Echiejile admitted, adding, “But we are up for everything that will come up against us because we want to be in Brazil next year.”
He argued that Nigerians should not celebrate just yet as past results against the Ethiopians will not count.
“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 Nigerian 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.”