Martins, Moses dismiss Kenya threat

Martins

Nigeria  forwards Obafemi Martins and Victor Moses have downplayed the threat posed by  Kenya to Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the Brazil  2014 World Cup.

The Super Eagles host the Harambee Stars in the first leg of their Group F World Cup qualifier in Calabar on Saturday and the Kenyans have vowed to pull off a shock victory over the African champions, who  are  33 places higher than them  in the Confederation of African Football rankings.

The East Africans have yet to win in 13 meetings against Nigeria since 1968. The last competitive game (South Africa 2010 World Cup qualifier)   between the two countries in Nairobi four years ago ended 3-2 in  favour  of the Eagles. And Nigeria beat the Kenyans 3-0 in a friendly affair in Abuja in March 2011.

Kenya coach Adel Amrouche,  France-based striker Dennis Oliech and Celtic  midfield star Victor Wanyama insist they are in Calabar to beat the Eagles, who lead the group with four points, to reignite their World Cup hopes. The Harambee Stars are  rooted to the bottom of the table with one point.

But speaking ahead of today’s encounter at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Martins and Moses dismissed the threat, backing the Eagles to bag all points.

Martins, who grabbed a brace when Nigeria defeated Kenya in Nairobi in 2009, promised that the Eagles would not disappoint.

However, the Seattle Sounders new signing  warned his teammates that they must not underestimate their  opponents.

“There is no small team anywhere in the world, but we will give our best against Kenya and hopefully we can win,” SuperSport quoted the former Inter Milan and Levante player as saying  on Friday.

Chelsea winger Moses declared that the team were ready for the encounter, saying the Kenyans had no chance against Nigeria.

The South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner tweeted, “We know what is expected of us in the game, and we are ready. If we were to play as a team as we did in South Africa, we have no problems.”

Portugal-based defender Elderson Echiejile  and Ukraine-based  striker Brown Ideye  echoed their  teammates’ comments, saying the Eagles will run out winners.

“The week is going on great, looking forward to a good game on Saturday against the Kenyan  national team,” Echiejile wrote on his Facebook page on Friday.

Meanwhile, coach Stephen Keshi  has admitted that the Eagles are under pressure to win the encounter