Former international and Super Eagles goalkeeper coach, Alloy Agu, has said members of the Super Eagles know the consequences of underrating any opponent and would take the match against Madagascar seriously.

Speaking to Trustsports on phone yesterday, the former Eagles goalkeeper said the players are professionals and they know that the match is the first in the series of matches they have to play to qualify for the 2011 Africa Nations Cup and would not like to start on a shaky note.

He said the players are fired up by the poor showing of the team at the South Africa 2010 World Cup and would not settle for anything less than outright victory over the Madagascans on Sunday at the UJ Esuene stadium in Calabar.

Coach Agu maintained that there are no longer minnows in African football and the national team handlers have always drummed the fact into the ears of the players.

He said: "We are taking this match seriously. Nobody is going to underrate Madagascar because there are no more minnows in African football. Eagles are professionals who know the danger in underrating any opponent.

"The team is fully ready for the match and with God on our side; we would give Nigerian football fans a lot to cheer on Sunday. We have got a full complement of our players in camp and the concentration level is also very high."

The goalkeeper coach added that the atmosphere in Calabar is a perfect one for the Eagles to triumph over their opponents.

He said already the team has received warm welcome from enthusiastic Calabar fans who have not hidden their readiness to come out en mass to give support to Eagles on Sunday.

Agu explained that those who frowned at the decision by NFF to take the match to Calabar should not forget that Cross River is part of Nigeria just as he said Calabar has a history of successes with international matches.

"I want to confirm to you that we are happy with the atmosphere here in Calabar. We are at home here and the players are really warming up to the match on Sunday. When we got down here today (yesterday), the reception was fantastic. Right from the airport to the city, football fans came out to welcome us."

He said Eagles will beat Madagascar on Sunday to start the 2011 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on a bright note.

"The atmosphere in camp is good enough for a resounding victory over Madagascar on Sunday. This is the first leg and we want to win convincingly," he stated.