BY JACOB AJOM
Nigeria chief coach, Stephen Keshi has dismissed insinuations that Super Eagles opponents in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final qualifier, the Lone Star of Liberia would come cheap for his wards.

Keshi whose young, wholly home based squad defeated their Liberian counterparts 2–0 in Monrovia in an international friendly early in the year, said the AFCON qualifier poses a much more bigger task than the friendly as the Liberians who also have a decent team would be out to prove that they too could be in South Africa.

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi with Home Based Super Eagles at a News Conference at the Eagles’ Camp in Abuja

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, the sweat merchant said, “we must not underrate the Liberians. We have to prepare hard for them as the September encounter will present a different setting altogether. The situation will be different and the circumstances will also be different.”

He fears that the Eagles will be meeting a different team from the one they defeated earlier in the year and promised that the Nigerian team cannot afford to go to Liberia with the best players available.

“We know we went there and beat them, but this time, it is going to be a different scenario because they will present their best against us. We cannot afford to underplay their strength,” Keshi said.

He recalled the exploits of some Liberian greats like legendary George Weah, and said he would always be a source of inspiration for the younger players.

Nigeria’s senior team comprising home-based players inflicted Liberian’s first home loss to Super Eagles in 27 years through Sunday Ubah’s brace in Monrovia in February.