African champions Nigeria are destined for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals taking place in Brazil after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
Both goals came from Fenerbahce marksman Emmanuel Emenike, the top scorer at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals that Nigeria won in South Africa.
The Ethiopians started like a house on fire, earning a number of corner kicks in the first 10 minutes, and their vociferous fans were energised to keep the din well into the first half-hour.
While the Eagles wasted a number of free-kicks and Victor Moses blasted over the mark, there was no doubt that the experience of the Nigerians would prove a turning point.
Godfrey Oboabona’s excellent spirit and timing denied the Ethiopians a sure goal with 24 minutes gone, after the ever-dangerous Saladin Said got past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
Twelve minutes into the second half, the old arena threatened to cave in after Enyeama uncharacteristically fumbled a short pull-out from the left, shooting the Antelopes into the lead. But the Nigerians, in the true Nigerian spirit, and remembering the words of President Goodluck Jonathan who visited them at training session the previous evening, in spite of the President’s heavy scheduled, responded.
Emmanuel Emenike, so usually the suspect, took charge of the ball from the left side of the attack, waltzed through the Ethiopian defence with amazing strength and close control, and fired in the equalizer, only seven minutes later.
The entire Nigerian delegation was ecstatic, but there was more to come, as the same Emenike, picking himself up after being upended in the box, slotted home the spot kick to give Nigeria the day.
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