Calabar Is Our Fortress -NFF

Super Eagles Nnamdi Oduamadi (12) taking Malawian opponent at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, last Saturday

The U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar has been described as the fortress of the Super Eagles where any opponent would be put to the sword.
This was the submission of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF board member and chairman of the Technical department, Barr Christopher Green after Nigeria secured the final play-off ticket for Brazil 2014 World Cup at the expense of Malawi.
Green said that the venue has been a good home for the national team and played a role in the team’s good run for World Cup qualification so far..
The Super Eagles have not lost any match at the venue since the first day of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Another NFF board member and chairman of Enyimba International FC, Chief Felix Anyansi could not agree less with his colleague’s position.
Anyansi attributed Eagles good run to the hospitality and support of the Cross River State government led by Senator Liyel Imoke and the fans in Calabar.
According to him, the passion and magnanimity of the people have been excellent and the NFF would not be in a hurry to relocate the national team from the venue.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi, says his team wouldbeat any of the other nine countries in contention for Africa’s five places at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Eagles comfortably beat Malawi 2-0 in Saturday’s World Cup in Calabar and after the victory, Keshi stated that he was not afraid of facing Ghana, Ivory Coast, Egypt or any of the other countries still in contention for a World Cup berth.
“I don’t have any preference for any of the teams left, whoever we are paired to face, we are ready to face them.
“The target is to be in Brazil 2014 and that is what we are pursuing as a team,” Keshi told newsmen.
The Super Eagles will be a seeded side in the draw and will play in a two-legged home and away tie to determine the final qualifying teams.
Draws for the final round playoffs will be held on Tuesday, September 16, with the five seeded teams Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria and Cape Verde to be drawn against Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Senegal and Ethiopia.
The first legs will be played in the weekend of Octorber 11-15 with the second legs in Novmber 15-19.