 Ikhana has won two in two as coach of Nigeria's Olympic team |
Nigeria coach Kadiri Ikhana is confident his Olympic team can qualify for Athens 2004 by avoiding defeat in Tunisia on Saturday.
The top two teams in Group A meet in Tunis, where Nigeria need just a draw from the decisive tie to secure qualification.
The Nigerians have ten points from five games and lead Tunisia by a point.
"We have a great chance of qualifying," Ikhana said.
"If we draw, we qualify and if we win, we qualify in style."
Ikhana took charge of Nigeria in January when the West Africans were third in their group, trailing then leaders Senegal by three points.
Yet the former Enyimba manager, who led the Aba-based club to Nigeria's first-ever Champions League success last year, has revitalised his country's qualifying hopes.
The West Africans defeated Senegal 2-0 in Ikhana's first game in charge in February, and then hammered bottom-placed Egypt earlier this month to go top of Group A.
"I said from the word go that all hope is not lost," the former Enyimba coach told BBC Sport.
"We had three games at hand and knew if we won all three, we would qualify.
"We are putting everything together to make sure we come out of Tunisia untouched.
Yet Ikhana says the game in Tunis will not be easy and paid tribute to his forthcoming opponents.
"I have great respect for Tunisia because they are a good footballing nation," the Nigeria coach explained.
"Tunisia always play a good game so we will respect our opponents, but that doesn't mean we will be afraid of them."
"The Tunisians haven't lost any matches but with our present positioning and psychological state, I believe we can win convincingly."
Nigeria have been in the Tunisian capital since yesterday but will be without Uche Kalu and Chris Obodo for Saturday's game since their respective clubs, Polish side Wisla Krakow and Perugia of Italy, have refused to release the pair as the game falls outside Fifa's international calendar.
For the same reason, French first division side Guingamp have refused to release Tunisia's Alaeddine Yahia and he has been replaced by CS Sfaxien's Issam Merdassi.
In the other Group A game, Senegal travel to Egypt.
Senegalese hopes of qualification are slim since they must win by six goals, and hope that Tunisia draw with Nigeria, to reach Athens.
MMIX
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With our present psychological state, I believe we can win convincingly 