Coach of Tahiti, Eddy Etaeta, says he will be counting on luck when his team confronts Nigeria in tomorrow's FIFA Confederations Cup Group B cracker at the 62,000 capacity Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horinzonke, Brazil.
According to Etaeta, it is true that they are coming into the competition as under dogs, his team has character and will not be intimidated by the Super Eagles whom he believes are beatable.
"It is true that we are going into the June 17 clash as under dogs, considering that this is our first appearance at the world stage, but we will not be intimidated by any team because my players have character and luck being on our side, we can turn the game against Nigeria," he said.
The side, which qualified for the tournament after winning the Oceania Nations Cup, faces a Super Eagles team that is surrounded by controversy, and only arrived Brazil two days before the match. Nigeria's participation was brought into question after some players refused to get on the plane from their hotel rooms in Namibia on Thursday following disputes over match bonuses.
The players have requested $US10, 000 in cash as winning bonus and threatened to strike when this was turned down. However, with the issue now resolved, the Stephen Keshi-led squad arrived Brazil yesterday to begin preparations ahead of its second Confederations Cup outing.
And it is believed that Tahiti will face a tough task when it comes up against Nigeria, as the Africa Cup of Nations champion has gone unbeaten in its past three games, registering two draws against Namibia and Mexico and a 1-0 away win over Harambee Stars of Kenya in a FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifier.
With the Super Eagles seemingly struggling for goals, Tahiti will hope to limit them with its strong defence – which includes star player Nicholas Valler – and potentially grab a goal on the break.
Tahiti's veteran Marama Vahirua – a former France under-21 international joined up with his country for the first time and manager Eddy Etaeta will be hoping his decision to select the Nancy striker pays off.
The Oceania champions will also be looking up to another star player, Chong Hue, who scored their winning goal against New Caledonia in the OFC Nations Cup to upstage the Super Eagles.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles forward, Brown Ideye, who scored 21 goals for Dynamo Kiev last season, could be key to Nigeria's success at the FIFA Confederations Cup, as AFCON top-scorer Emmanuel Emenike, Chelsea's Victor Moses and Ogenyi Onazi are all unavailable due to injuries.
Thus Keshi will be counting on AFCON hero, Sunday Mba, Nnamdi Oduamadi, John Mikel Obi, Joseph Akpala, Michael Babatunde, Mohammed Gambo and Anthony Ujah amongst others to emulate the 2009 Flying Eagles who recorded an impressive 5-0 bashing of Tahiti at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.
