Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama says Kenya can stun Nigeria in Calabar this weekend when the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Africa resume.

The clash of the Super Eagles and the Harambee Stars appears a mismatch as the 2013 Cup of Nations champions are 33 places higher on the CAF rankings, enjoy home advantage and there is a three-point gap between the teams.

Nigeria beat Namibia at home and held Malawi away in Group F last June to collect four points while Kenya secured just one after a home draw against Malawi and a loss in Namibia.

Wanyama

But Wanyama, reportedly noticed by several leading English Premier League clubs after scoring against Barcelona to help Celtic reach the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League this season, is upbeat.

“The players are ready, there is a lot of mental strength among them and we are hopeful of a favourable result against Nigeria,” Wanyama, 21, said.

“Everything is possible in football and Kenya can win in Nigeria — it is time the Harambee Stars moved forward in international football,” added the national captain who made his international debut at 17 against Nigeria.

Nigeria ended a 19-year trophy drought when they won the Nations Cup a third time last February with a Sunday Mba half-volley just before half-time settling the final against surprise side Burkina Faso.

Few beyond Nigeria gave the Eagles a chance of going all the way, but a mix of young local and foreign-based stars soared after a slow start and excelled when beating title favourites Ivory Coast in the knockout stages.

But coach Stephen Keshi, who shares with the late Egyptian Mahmoud Al Gohary the record of winning the Africa Cup as a player and a coach, has told his stars to forget the Soweto triumph.

“South Africa is history now and Nigeria must qualify for Brazil next year. We need the support of everyone to ensure that happens and I know my boys will not let the nation down.”

Keshi has called up two midfielders — Ukraine-based Michael Babatunde and John Ogu of Portuguese club Academica Coimbra — who did not make the 23-man Nations Cup-winning squad.

Kenya will rely heavily on France-based striker Dennis Oliech for goals and Algeria-born Adel Amrouche makes his debut as coach after succeeding veteran Frenchman Henri Michel.