W/Cup ticket will be Centenary gift —Ameobi

Date Posted: 28/09/2013

Shola Ameobi

Nigeria and Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi has said that a Brazil 2014 World Cup ticket would be the perfect Centenary gift the Super Eagles can give to the country.

Nigeria celebrates the Centenary of the country’s amalgamation in 2014, and Ameobi says a World Cup ticket would be one of the best gifts to Nigerians who are known across the world as lovers of the game of football.

“For us to qualify for the World Cup, that would be the perfect present to give to the fans and the country,” Ameobi told KickOffNigeria.com.

The Eagles play Ethiopia over two legs with the first match in Addis Ababa billed for October 13 with the return match fixed for Calabar November 16. The winners of the fixtures will pick one of the five tickets to the 2014 World Cup.

And with a lot of previews already written on the match, Ameobi says it is important for the Eagles to show why they are African champions when they meet the Ethiopians. He believes the Ethiopians should also be under pressure as they have to prove they can overcome the African champions.

“They should be worried about us. We are champions of Africa and it’s important that we go out there and prove that again.”

But the Newcastle striker, who made his home debut in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Malawi, nevertheless wants Nigerians to get prepared irrespective of the current status.

He said, “At the end of the day, we just have to make sure we are prepared as a team and as a squad, mentally and physically and go into those games knowing we have to give our absolute maximum to get through to the World Cup.”

Ameobi dream gift for Nigeria comes as the country’s coach Stephen Keshi hopes that Bright Dike, Kenneth Omeruo and Gabriel Reuben get back into full fitness. Keshi, who is on holiday in the United States, said that the players give him a lot of options in the major departments of the game.

He said, “I am in touch with the three of them and have been praying with them and for them. Nigeria and their clubs need them because they are at their prime and very good at what they are doing.”

Keshi also spoke on Mikel’s first Premier League goal for Chelsea.

“I have been trying to reach him but to no avail. I’m absolutely delighted to know he scored. I’ve always told him he could do it but he has to move closer to the goal area. He has done it with the national team and there should be nothing special about his scoring for Chelsea but a lot also depends on how (Jose) Mourinho wants him to play. I am sure he will score more now.”