Super Eagles to victory over Ethiopia in the 2014 World Cup qualifying play-off.

Emmanuel Emenike

Algiers ’90 Africa Cup of Nations silver  medallist Moses Kpakor believes Emmanuel Emenike’s physical strength and  Nnamdi Oduamadi’s trickery  can inspire  the Super Eagles  to victory  over  Ethiopia in the 2014 World Cup qualifying play-off.

Ethiopia host the first leg in Addis Ababa on October 13 with the return match in Calabar   on November 16. The aggregate winners qualify for next year’s finals in Brazil.

And former Nigeria   midfielder Kpakor warned     the Eagles not to underestimate the   Walya Antelopes, saying they   have talent to pull off one of the greatest upsets in the game by beating them  to seal  their place at the World Cup.

But the ex-BCC Lions star is backing the Eagles to win the  two-leg play-off, saying  the Walya Antelopes will struggle to cope with Emenike’s physical play and Oduamadi’s close ball-control and dribbling skill.

He suggested the duo should start in the attack for Nigeria in Addis Ababa, saying their strengths would help the Eagles against the hosts who are banking on their high altitude for an upset.

“The Ethiopian weather can pose problems for our players but with Emenike and Oduamadi, we can prevent them from pressurising our defensive,” Kpakor said.

“Emenike is very strong and can take half chances. The Ethiopians will pay much attention to him because they know that  he’s dangerous.

“This will help us conserve energy and hit them when we have fully settled into the game.

“With Oduamadi’s dribbling penetration,  the opponents will be under pressure throughout the encounter.

“Oduamadi is one of our best players. He has the ability to create space and carve out openings for goals. He also helps in defending when we lose the ball.

“I think Stephen Keshi should ask the team to play in a way that Mikel Obi or any other player can capitalise on the strengths of Emenike and Oduamadi to score goals, because the two forwards will be heavily monitored  by  Ethiopia.”

The  five-time FA Cup winner  urged Keshi to work on the “tactical problem” in his defence before the Addis Ababa clash.

“Our fullbacks sometimes  let us down each time we attack,” he said.

“When we attack from the right,   the   defenders should shift to the right, and  do the same when we attack from the left.

“We have conceded avoidable goals because our fullbacks joined the attack at the same time. And when we lose the ball, the opponents attack us down the flanks.

“We should avoid this time around because the Ethiopains are very good at counterattacks.”

Kpakor called for support for the team, saying “the country can’t  afford to miss Brazil 2014”.

He said, “We are now at a stage in the game where there are  surprises. So we cannot afford to leave things to Keshi and his boys to do. We  have to unite and give the team support to qualify for the World Cup.”