Sport

Ambrose: Scotland will provide tough test

May 28, 2014 4:02 pm

Super Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose, is expecting a stiff test from Scotland when the teams go head-to-head in a friendly encounter at Craven Cottage on Wednesday in London.

The Celtic player will be facing his club captain, Scott Brown, and his other Hoops colleagues in the Scotland squad, but he says it won’t distract him from the task of helping the Super Eagles to victory as they aim to head to the World Cup in Brazil on a high.

“We don’t know who the gaffer is going to pick to play in Scotland game, as he might use it to look at other players,” he told the official Celtic website.

“No one knows what he will do yet, but it will be great to play against Scotland. Having seen them play for the past five games. They have been playing superbly and they have been winning most of these games. It’s been a great turnaround for Scottish football, as you can see in the FIFA rankings — they are stepping up.

“For me, playing against Scott Brown, Leigh Griffiths, Charlie Mulgrew and the rest of the guys will be funny. But this is football and you have to do this sometimes — having your club teammates in the opposite team.”

Ambrose, who represented Nigeria at the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, is determined to win the game despite it being a friendly match.

“It’s a friendly game but friendlies are different now – everybody wants to win,” he said.

“Before, you used these games to set up your team and prepare a side. But there is big change in mentality now. Friendlies count in the FIFA rankings; and the more you win, the more your country goes up the rankings, so it gets more competitive.

“You don’t want to lose friendly games. You use your best team and I believe both sides will be aiming to do their best as it counts in the FIFA rankings. Both Scotland and Nigeria are doing well, so whoever wants it more will win on the day. Preparation for the World Cup is the most important thing, but at the same time, we have to make sure we don’t get beat.”