By Eddie Akalonu

AS the Super Eagles battle  the Harambee Stars of Kenya today in a 2014 World Cup qualifier at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, ex international, Tony Ukeachu has said that they must play a high tempo game and make the visitors feel the pressure all the way.

“I like the team to be hard on them as it is the tonic to getting goals and winning,” he said.

Nigeria go into today’s clash on top of Group-F with four points, one point ahead of Namibia while Malawi follow on two points and Kenya place last with just one point.

After  today’s match, the Super Eagle’s road to next year’s World Cup in Brazil resumes in June when they travel away twice, first to Nairobi for a return leg tie and then Namibia before hosting Malawi in September for the last group encounter.

Ukeachu believes the Eagles have in Sunday Mbah, Mikel Obi, Obafemi Martins,Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa, the players capable of ripping open an obstinate Kenyan defence in Calabar for the three points at stake.

“But it has to be high tempo from the Eagles by making sure we pressurise them and make them feel the heat and crumble in front of our home fans,” he advised, as he predicted a high scoreline in Eagles’ favour.

“Because the Kenyans will be under a lot of pressure to impress us and get a good result, hence I think they will be playing very deep to find the net which will work to our advantage,” he said.

Ukeachu, former captain of the defunct Spartans FC of Owerri and coach of Iwuanyanwu Nationale in its later years, hopes the Eagles would up the momentum that saw them lifting the Cup of Nations, adding that Mikel Obi and the defence can supply plenty of passes and crosses that would propel attackers into incessant aerial assaults for goals.

“I hope seriously they play for goals and the three points to up the stake and consolidate our leadership of the group,” he emphasised in an interview.

Expressed delight at the players’ response to camp, he said that it “has allowed Keshi marshal a good winning plan for the game.”

“I feel that it should be a high tempo and high energy game that can force the Kenyans into conceding goals”, he said, adding, “I know games of this nature can be a little bit more relaxed and that should not be allowed to happen.”