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Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia is already looking at ways of preparing his team for their next 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Ethiopia. Siasia is particularly focused on getting the Eagles ready to cope with the altitude of the East African nation.

The match comes up on June 5 in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa with the Super Eagles in desperate need of a win over the Walya Antelopes so as to keep pace with Group B leaders Guinea, who are expected to, same day, win their AFCON qualifier against Madagascar in Conakry.

But Addis Ababa is situated 2,355 metres (7,726 feet) above sea level which is likely going to affect the performance of players, especially those from low altitude areas owing to the decrease in atmospheric pressure.

Playing at high altitude, where the oxygen level is considerably lower, is often a strategy deployed by teams so as to achieve the desired result against oftentimes stronger opponents with one of the most celebrated instances being the 6-0 demolition of Argentina by Bolivia during one of the qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Ethiopia have, however, not had that much luck while playing at home as their last AFCON qualifier in Addis Ababa ended in a 4-1 defeat to Guinea. But if the words of the coach of the Walya Antelopes, Iffy Onuora are to be taken seriously, then the Super Eagles will have to be at their best in order emerge victorious on June 5.

Speaking at the end of last Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Super Eagles, Onuora expressed optimism over his side’s chances of springing a surprise against the Super Eagles due to the city’s altitude.

A loss to Ethiopia, and a Guinean victory over Madagascar will virtually end the Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the 2012 AFCON to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, and Siasia isn’t quite keen on having the unenviable record of not qualifying the Super Eagles for the continent’s premier tournament.

The last coach to do that was Christopher Udemezue who failed to secure qualification for the 1986 tournament in Egypt.

Disastrous

“That will be disastrous,” remarked Siasia in an interview with NEXT. “Nigerians will be mad if we don’t qualify especially after placing so much faith in us. So we just have to be very prepared for that game and the ones after that.

“For the Ethiopia game, because of the high altitude, we can only do two things. We either go there a few days before the game and try to camp, or we get there on the day of the game.” The human body can adapt to high altitude by breathing faster, having a higher heart rate, as well as an adjustment in its blood chemistry, but it can take days or weeks to adapt.

Arriving hours before kickoff however reduces the effect on the body and is a strategy that has been deployed time after time in international football.

“That’s what we will do but we still have to talk to the federation and see how we can work out the logistics and every other thing related to the game,” he continued.

“It is a very important game and it is equally important to know all the details and how to go about it.”