Abuja – Super Eagles striker Osaze Odemwingie has assured Nigerians that Saturday’s 2 p.m. kick-off time will not affect their performance against Guinea.

Odemwingie is making a return to the senior national team who host Guinea at the Abuja National Stadium.

The match is their final round group B match in the qualifiers for the 2012 African Nations Cup scheduled for Equatorial Guinea and Gabon next January.

“The time is not a new thing to the team, so it doesn’t have a role to play in our performance.

“It’s not a new thing to us and besides, from tomorrow (Wednesday), we will start training in the afternoon.” Odemwingie said.

The competition’s organisers, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), had earlier
stipulated that all matches scheduled for that day must be played simultaneously.

The group’s other match, Ethiopia versus Madagascar, is scheduled for 4 p.m Ethiopian time, which is two hours ahead of Nigerian time.

Odemwingie said he was sure that the time would not affect the Eagles because the Nigerian weather at 2 p.m was still conducive for the team.

“The weather is still conducive for a very good play, and we have had that experience before. So, we know how to prepare ourselves for the match.”

The England-based striker said the Nigerian team had a positive atmosphere around it.

“In view of this, Nigerians should expect an excellent performance to ensure Nigeria secure a place in the 2012 Nations Cup.

“All the players are in camp and the positive atmosphere is a plus to the team as the game determines the qualifier for the Nations Cup.”

“Every player wants to play in the Nations Cup, so we are putting in extra effort to ensure we win the game.

“All we need is an early goal for our first goal to reduce tension, and then build on that to score more goals.”

The West Bromwich Albion player, however, noted that the game would not be easy for the Eagles.

“It won’t be an easy task, because there will be pressure on the players. But once we have a lead goal that puts us ahead, we can control the game.

“Its not going to be easy, as there will be a lot of pressure on the players because a win is very important”

“But the basic thing is for us to have an early first goal, then we will play some defensive football to keep the goal and add to it.”

Odemwingie, however, called on Nigerians to turn out en mass on Saturday to watch and cheer the team up, saying  “a low turn-out of spectators can affect our morale”.(NAN)