Echiejile bullish about Eagles chances in Monrovia

Elderson Uwa Echiejile has said the Super Eagles have to put their bodies on the line to win Saturday’s AFCON clash in Liberia.

Nigeria battles Liberia for a place in next year’s Nations Cup to be staged in South Africa. And Sporting Braga of Portugal star Echiejile disclosed the Eagles will have to be at their best to ensure qualification.

“This match is fight to finish and anyone telling you that it will be easy for us in Liberia, does not know football,” said Echiejile, who joined the Eagles training camp in Abuja Tuesday morning. “Nobody expected us not to qualify for the last Nations Cup, but Guinea came to Abuja and got the result they needed to qualify ahead of us.

“I’m very sure that we have all learnt that very bitter lesson and as such we cannot afford to take any chances. Rather I expect us to do everything including putting our bodies on the line so as to ensure victory on Saturday.”

Echiejile’s rallying call for total commitment runs contrary to widely held belief that the country’s pros are often very mindful of their careers when they are on duty for Nigeria.

“We all love Nigeria and for many of us we are in Europe today because this country gave us the opportunity,” further stressed the left back who featured at the 2010 AFCON in Angola.

“We are ready to spill our last blood for our country at any given time and I believe this resolve will again be evident in Monrovia.”