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The Super Eagles will tackle the Ethiopian national football team – the Walya Antelopes, in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier inside the main bowl of the National Stadium in Abuja with only one thought on their mind – victory!

In what will be Samson Siasia’s first official match, not just a victory will do for his boys tonight against the East Africans, they need to secure a wide-margin victory in order to reduce the advantage currently held by Group B leaders, Guinea, who currently have six points, three points ahead of the Super Eagles.

The Guineans also enjoy a comfortable plus-four goals difference over the Eagles, who only have plus-one following the 1-0 loss they suffered at the hands of the Guineans back in October last year.

Guinea will also be in action today against Madagascar in Antananarivo but if the poor run of form of the Madagascans since the start of the qualifiers is anything to go by, then the Guineans should emerge from this game with at least a point.

A win is equally possible for the Guineans; after all, they will be taking on a Madagascan side that has lost all their Group B matches to date, including a 1-0 loss to Ethiopia last October in Antananarivo.

But a lot has happened to the islanders since suffering back to back losses to Nigeria (2-0) and Ethiopia as there has been a change in coaching personnel with Frenchman Jean-Paul Rabier making way for local coach Maurice Mosa who will also make his competitive debut today.

That will be the scenario today for the Eagles as they seek to win and win-over the fans.

Siasia though has another agenda – the coach will seek to prove that the people’s mandate was not mis-placed.

Arguably one of the best Nigerian coaches of his generation, Siasia has the arduous task of changing the fortunes of a side that has become a shadow of its once illustrious past for the better; the Super Eagles no longer commands the respect of other teams on the African continent and in the world.

Intense pressure

The match takes on added significance considering the fact that only one team from Group B is guaranteed automatic qualification to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. And with three rounds of matches to go after tonight’s game, Siasia is no doubt under immense pressure to grab a win over the Ethiopians.

“The man must know that he has to win. I’m sure he sees the log and knows that Guinea is ahead of us,” said Ademola Olajire, the media officer of the Nigeria Football Federation. “I’m sure he knows that if we do not win this match we may not play at the Africa Cup of Nations next year.

“I’m also sure as he lives his life daily; he meets people and gets phone calls from friends to want him to know what is at stake. All that can put pressure on a person so I know he is under some pressure but it is not coming from us.”

The history between both sides backs the Super Eagles to emerge victorious at the end of tonight’s game as they have only lost once to the East Africans in four previous meetings.

That loss (1-0) came in 1993 in Addis Ababa but the Super Eagles retaliated in grand style by securing an overwhelming 6-0 victory over the Ethiopians in Lagos to qualify for the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

The Super Eagles went on to win the Tunisia ‘94 Africa Cup of Nations with Siasia playing an integral role in that side’s all-conquering route to the cup.

Siasia said he dreams of becoming the first Nigerian coach to lead the Super Eagles to an Africa Nations Cup title but readily admitted that he will first need to secure qualification ahead of the Guineans beginning with victory in tonight’s tie against the Walya Antelopes.

“We have to first secure qualification before we can start thinking of winning the trophy,” he said. “And to be sure of that we have to win all our games starting with this one. Everyone in the team is aware of that (and) will be doing their best to make it come to pass.”

Siasia will, however, have to make-do without the services of the duo of Osaze Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins who are currently nursing injuries.