Former Super Eagles assistant coach Joe Erico has laughed off the threat of Swaziland’s Sihlangu Semnikati to the side’s race for a place at the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.
The Eagles will engage the Southern Africans in a two-legged encounter in next month's second round African qualifiers for the quadrennial football showpiece.
Swaziland outplayed Djibouti 8-1 on aggregate in the first round hostilities to earn the right to face Nigeria who were drawn a bye from the preliminary campaign.
Erico said that though there are no minnows in the round leather game the Southern Africans cannot muster the energy to stop Nigeria from advancing to the mini-league stage of the World Cup race.
“Of course Swaziland cannot stop Nigeria from qualifying for the next stage of the 2018 World Cup even though we all agree that there are no minnows in football.
“No, no, Swaziland do not have the muscle to puncture Nigeria’s race but that does not call for complacency on the part of Super Eagles.
“Hard work is the watchword on the part of Eagles once they are able to plan well, play together ahead of the clash they will certainly overcome the Swazis,” said the former Nigerian goalkeeper to supersport.com.
The Eagles are expected to fly into Lobamba in the first week of November for the first leg fixture clash while the reverse clash will be held in Nigeria a week later.
The aggregate winners of both legs will claim the ticket to the group stage that will see the top teams secure spots for the Russia 2018 World Cup.