Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose has sent a message to the world’s best player, the talismanic Lionel Messi, vowing to checkmate him when Messi’s Barcelona meet Efe’s new club, Celtic, in the European Champions League.

“I can handle you; no problem!” Efe who joined the Scottish giants on transfer deadline-day, told Messi today through the British tabloid, The Sun.

“Lionel Messi is no stranger to me — I was in Nigeria’s Under-23 team that played in the Olympic final against Argentina in 2008,” Efe said.

“I also played against him in a friendly match last year in Bangladesh, so Messi won’t pose many problems to me. I will do my best to mark him out when Celtic and Barcelona slug it out in the Champions League,” he added.

The Nigerian senior international (shown in photo) is expected to make his Celtic debut tomorrow at St Johnstone, but Europe is already his main focus.

Apart from taunting Messi, 23-year-old Efe also told Super Eagles teammate and Spartak Moscow ace Emmanuel Emenike that he is equally ready for him as the Hoops bid to qualify from Group G.

“I’ve told Emenike he should watch out for me,” said Efe, who joined Celtic in a £1.2 million deal from Israeli side Ashdod.

“I want to prove to Celtic they can rely on me and the only way I can do so is to play well and help the team achieve league and European success. I need to adapt to the style of play, the weather, the food and everything associated with the club. Time is not on my side, but I’m a very determined person and I believe I will cope,” he further said.