Nigeria Football Federation has played
down an early kick-off time picked by Ethiopia for a 2014 World Cup
play-off in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia host the Super Eagles on
October 13 in a first leg World Cup play-off to next year’s World Cup
in Brazil.
Reports have suggested the match will be
played from 2pm Ethiopian time.
“The early kick-off will not have any
adverse effect on our team,” the NFF General Secretary Musa Amadu
said.
“We believe it will be a game between 11
players on one side and 11 on the other side and the best team will win
on the day.”
Ethiopia have had a proposed match date
of October 20 rejected by world football governing body FIFA as it does
not fall within the FIFA window.
Officials said this was another ploy
by Ethiopia to see if they could make it difficult for Nigeria to get
their Europe-based stars released for the match.
Both teams played out a 2-2 draw when
they last clashed in Addis Ababa two years ago in a 2012 Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier.
Star-studded Nigeria needed a
last-gasp equaliser to get a result on a day they struggled with the
conditions against a highly inspired Walya Antelopes.
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