Emmanuel Emenike was the hero of the day as Nigeria picked a vital 2-1 win

Emmanuel Emenike was the hero of the day as Nigeria picked a vital 2-1 win against  Ethiopia

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in Addis Ababa on Sunday afternoon in their first leg play off of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

The Fenerbahçe striker was first on target at the 67 minute to neutralize a goal scored ten minutes earlier by Ethiopia’s midfielder Behailu Assefa before converting from the spot on 90 minutes as the Super Eagles flew out of Italy with a vital win ahead of the second leg.

Under the cruising Addis Ababa sun, it was the home side that took control of the game but found a perfect Enyeama between the sticks for Nigeria to deny them any scoring opportunity through out the first half.

The veteran stopper was  however at fault ten minutes into the second half when he poorly read  a cross-cum-shot by Assefa and could only collect the ball in the air when it had crossed the line as Ethiopia grabbed the lead.

The Super Eagles however did not wait long before getting back on level terms as Emenike held off his marker outside the Ethiopian penalty box before firing a shot past Ethiopian ‘keeper Tasew for the equaliser in the 67; minute.

Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi had been rewarded for his inspired substitutions in the second half to turn the game around but it was Emenike who won all the plaudits at the end after breezing past Ethiopian defender Hailu  before he was tripped in the box to earn a penalty right at the end of the game.

The Fenerbache man kept his calm to send the ‘keeper the wrong way as Nigeria headed the right way towards Brazil carrying a 2-1 lead into the second leg.

The Ethiopians now have a mountain to climb going into the second leg on November 16 in Calabar where the Super Eagles have a pretty decent record.

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Match Report to follow…..

Nigeria were outplayed for most parts of the game but were patient and took their chances brilliantly. It would be a mountain to climb for the Ethiopians in the second leg on November 16 in Calabar.

90+5′ The referee blows the final whistle as the Nigerian players go wild with joy as they have grabbed a vital win here in Addis Ababa.

90+3′ Hinisa shoots but to weak as Enyeama collects.

Emenike does justice himself and sends the ‘keeper the wrong way to score his econd of the day.

90′ Goalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Emenike scores for Nigeria who are now 2-1 up

89’ – Aynalem Hailu (Ethiopia) goes into the referee’s book

89′ Penalty for Nigeria as Emenike is brought down in the box by Hailu

84′ Yellow card for Hinsa

82′ ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a golden opportunity for Said but Oboabona is fast to clear the ball inside the six yard box for a goal kick

81′ Ethiopia peppering the Nigerian defence with a series of corners but the Nigerian defence holds mstrong and finally gets a goal kick.

77′ ooooooooooooh what a chance for Nigeria, Musa is played through on goal accidentally by an Ethiopian defender but Musa’s shot is repelled by Tasew’s post. That was so close.

76′ Said Saladin with that promising counter at the edge of the Nigerian box but he wastes much time as the Nigerians defenders get back as the striker losses possession.

75′Penalty shout for Nigeria as Musa goes down in the Ethiopian box but the referee waves play on and the Ethiopians can counter immediately

74’ – Ethiopia Substitution: Addis Hintsa in for Shimelis Bekele

71′ Tasew is swift off his line to collect the ball after Emenike tried to find Brown Ideye with a slick ball.

… And the Addis Ababa stadium is silenced as Emenike held up the Ethiopian defence well before firing a shot to beat Tasew and level the scores for Nigeria. Tasew should have done better from that Emenike effort as the striker fired out of the box.

68′ GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 1-1 Nigeria back in the game.

67′ Nigeria Substitution: Brown Ideye replaces Victor Moses

65′ Nigeria Substitution: Nosa Igiebor replaces Nnamdi Oduamadi

62′ Ethiopia substitution, Okwury comes in to replaces Girma.

60′ What a chance for Moses, the Liverpool forward is through on goal but could not beat the Ethiopian goalkeeper who saves the shot superbly well. Should have done better Moses!!!

Ethiopia now have the ascendancy.

Behailu Assefa (Ethiopia) is booked for removing his shirt during the celebration

What a strange goal to concede, Asefa crosses the ball from the left hand side and Enyeama can only collect the ball after it had crossed the line in the air, what was he thinking? what a costly mistake by the experienced goalkeeper.

56′ GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Ethiopia 1-0 up!!!!

55′ Enyeama is fast off his post to stop that Ethiopian counter.

54′ Nigeria win a free kick after Oduamadi is fouled but Mikel makes a mess of it and Ethiopia can counter.

Adane Girma is booked for pulling back Mikel

51′ Promising move for Nigeria on the right there but Efe Ambrose is caught by the whistle for handball.

…..anxiety there on Stephen Keshi’s face  as Nigeria struggle to get possession in the early stages of this game

48′ Ambrose clatters into Bekele as Ethiopia win a free kick inside Nigeria’s half

47′ Enyeama is first there on get on that Butako shot as Ethiopia launch the first attack of this second half.

46′ We are underway for the second half in the Addis Ababa stadium as Nigeria get possession.

The teams get back to the pitch for the second half and Ethiopia…..

45+2 HALF TIME : Ethiopia 0-0 Nigeria

45+2 What a CHANCE!!! for Ethiopia Said Saladin once again races clear of the Nigerian defence and drives a powerful shot which is parried for a corner by Vincent Enyeama- it has really been a game between the veteran shot stopper and Saladin. That would be the last action of the game as the referee sounds his whistle for half time.

45+1 Emenike launches a swift counter for Nigeria as has been the case in the latter stages of this half but the Ethiopian defence hold strong and can clear.

45′ Great opportunity for Ethiopia but Enyeama is swift to get off his line and collect the ball though the linesman’s flag had gone up for an offside call.

43′ Ethiopia can build from a goal kick after Nigeria made a mess of a free kick in a promising position

Stephen Keshi has been looking at his watch as it seems he wants the half time whistle to come earlier than expected. Nigeria have really soaked up pressure from the Ethiopians in these latter stages.

40′ Free kick for Nigeria in a promising position but Onazi fires it wide over the cross bar.

38′ Girma has really come alive in this half and he almost put Ethiopia ahead there as he eliminated two Nigerian defenders in the box but fires a disappointing shot over 5the cross bar from a promising move

36′ Girma shoots wide from a swift Ethiopian attack

A shot break as the players run down the touch line to drink some water

34′ Tasew is swift to block Ahmed Musa’s shot that was going on goal.

31′ Long run there by Said as he tries to skip past Ambrose but the Celtic man stops hm inthe box amidst claims for a penalty.

30′ Onazi brings down Bekele as Ethiopia win a free kick which Butako puts wide off target.

26′ Enyeama up on his feet again to collect a ball intended for Bekele who was through on goal

24′ What a CHANCE!!!  for Ethiopia. Saladin chips it over Enyeam a but Oboabona just clears it over the line. Not really sure whether the ball  had crossed the line as Said  Saladin and the Ethiopian fans were already celebrating. This would once more raise the goal line technology debate. Was that a goal?

22′Ethiopia launch an attack but Girma’s effort is weak and Enyeama can collect

19′ Nigeria win a free kick in Ethiopia’s half but Musa’s delivery is pushed out for a corner by the Ethiopian goalkeeper.

13′ CHANCE  for Nigeria as Ethiopia relinquish possession at the back but Moses makes a mess of that opportunity as his shot goes very wide.

12′ First caution of the game goes to Ethiopia’s Moges Ceuyonr for a foul on Oduamadi but the ensuing free kick is poor

11′ Said chases that long cross there but Enyeama is swift to come out of his yard and collect the ball.

10′ Ethiopia are playing Barcelona-like here much to the delight of their fans.

8′ Assefa fires a shot wide off the Nigeria post as Ethiopia continue to dominate possession

5′ Nigeria win their first corner but the Ethiopian defence holds strong to block Mikel’s shot.

-3′ The hosts are putting enormous pressure on the Super Eagles and have had two successive corners in these opening stages but the Nigerian defence holds strong.

-And we are underway…..

-The teams are on the field singing the national anthem

- Nigeria starting eleven: Enyeama, Ambrose, Oboabona, Egweukwe, Echiejile, Onazi, Obi Mikel, Musa, Oduamadi, Moses, Emenike

-TEAM NEWS: Ethiopia starting eleven: Tassew, Seyoum, Debede, Aynalem, Abebaw, Megersa, Minyahile, Bekele, Girma, Assefa, Saladin

- Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the 2014 World Cup qualifier between Ethiopia and Nigeria in Addis Ababa.

Catch all the play-by-play commentary of the crucial first leg 2014 World Cup qualifier between Ethiopia and Nigeria on Sunday October 13 at 13hoo GMT!!!

We will be live to bring you all the action from Addis Ababa!!!

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On paper, it looks the most unbalanced fixture for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers play offs but as history would prove; no game is won before a game is kicked.

Ethiopia would have that at the back of their mind when they host Nigeria on Sunday 13th October at 1PM GMT in the first leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers play offs.

It is no fluke that the Antelopes are at this stage after seeing off competition from South Africa at the group stage-they now fancy their chances of creating another major upset by reaching the World Cup at the expense of Nigeria.

The Super Eagles cannot hide the fact that they had been in inertia since 2010 and even the appointment of Stephen Keshi had not succeeded in making the team produce a convincing style of play.

However, one magical moment in 2013 from a Victor Moses brace saw the Super Eagles beat Ethiopia 2-0 in their final group game of the 2013 Afcon and that proved to be the genesis to a tough team that went on to win the competition and re-establish themselves as the continent’s powerhouse.

History favours the Super Eagles who have won five of their seven previous meetings drawing once and losing once but get set for another entertaining clash when both sides take to the pitch on Sunday in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia’s probable line up:Bancha-Dedebe-Abebaw-Tesfay- Said Saladin-Gobena-Breghizo-Teshome-Bekele-Ukuri-Asefa-Girma

Nigeria’s probable line up: Enyeama-Ambrose-Oboaboa-Eguekwe-Echiejile-Mikel Obi – Sunday Mba-Brown Ideye- Ahmed Musa-Emenike-Victor Moses