Lagos — Super Eagles skipper Nwankwo Kanu believes that the new resolve of the national team players to bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians coupled with their experience should see them fly past the Leone Stars tomorrow.

Nigeria is scheduled to take on Sierra Leone in the second series of their campaign to make next year's Nations/World Cup finals in Angola and South Africa.

Speaking exclusively to THISDAYSports yesterday, the Portsmouth star said the Eagles under new handler Shaibu Amodu were destined to make the next round of the campaign without putting Nigerians through sleepless nights.

While stressing that they were not underrating their foes, Kanu, however, insisted that on their day the Eagles are more than a match for any nation.

"We're not going to underrate them (Sierra Leone) but the truth is that on our day we are more than a match for any nation. I've already told you before that we the players have resolved to atone for Ghana 2008 and the only way we can do this is to qualify for both competitions.

We want to do so as smoothly as possible.

"Luckily we have both youth and experience on our side, which is a very good combination for any team. We the older players will try to impart our experience on the younger ones so that they will be able to hold their own under any circumstances, while they have age on their side to do all the running and grafting for the team."

When THISDAYSports pointed out that Nigeria has a poor record in Freetown and with the Eagles' march to Korea/Japan 2002 almost being derailed the last time the team travelled there, after losing 1-0, Kanu shot back: "Records are there to be broken!"

"Yes we know it won't be easy, especially since they lost their opening match they will love to get back on track with a win against us. But we know what to expect and more importantly we have the players not only able to get a result there (Freetown) but even pick all three points.

"We want to wrap up our ticket to the next round as soon as possible this will allow the coach to rest some of the players."

Kanu went on to point out that what happened in Abuja (Eagles 2-0 victory over the Bafana Bafana) is now history and the onus was on them to deliver away from home.

"We won in Abuja but that is history, we need to do the same in all our matches including those away from home. I strongly believe that we are capable of doing this and this match is a chance for us to prove it."

The former Arsenal star said the players were solidly behind Amodu, who is making his third outing as Eagles coach.

"We are very okay with him. He doesn't talk much but he does it is with action. He has shown that he is very much in charge of the team. And together we hope to do well all the way to both Angola and South Africa.

"We respect him and he respects us as players, which is very good for the overall goal which is to prove to the world that Nigeria is a great footballing nation whether under a foreign or indigenous handler."

Speaking yesterday morning after training Amodu, who was assistant to Jo Bonfrere when the Leone Stars shocked the Eagles in April, 2001, said "It was a shame to have lost that way against the Leone Stars that day. It was a sad day for me. I, however, have faith in my team. They will make Nigeria proud."

The Eagles were, however, excused from training yesterday evening. They are billed to leave this morning on a chartered flight to Freetown for the match taking place tomorrow at 5.30pm Nig time.