Nigeria beat Ethiopia to qualify for World Cup

Victor Moses and Efe Ambrose

Nigeria became the first African side to reach the 2014 World Cup after a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in Calabar confirmed a 4-1 aggregate play-off win. Victor Moses coolly slotted home a first half penalty before substitute Obinna Nsofor slammed home a late free-kick to see Nigeria through to their fifth World Cup finals in six attempts.

Efe Ambrose had the first Nigerian shot in the opening moments after Brown Ideye had broken into the Ethiopian penalty area, but the Celtic defender’s effort was wild and high. Sisay Bancha then produced a wonderful double save after a seemingly innocuous throw-in by Ahmed Musa reached Emmanuel  Emenike in space inside the Ethiopia penalty area. His shot was stopped and Moses’ follow up was turned behind for a corner by the Ethiopia No1

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The game then turned in Nigeria’s favour as Musa received the ball on the Nigeria left and attempted a cross. Aynalem Hailu – the defender who conceded a last-minute penalty in Addis Ababa – jumped to block and was adjudged to have handled the ball. Moses stepped up, and scored an almost identical penalty to Emenike’s first leg effort, passing the ball into the bottom right-hand corner and sending Bancha the wrong way.

It was Moses’ third penalty against Ethiopia in 2013, having scored two spot kicks against the Walya Antelopes at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Ogenyi Onazi then received the ball on the Nigeria right and whipped in a cross to the back post, but Ideye headed wide of the goal. The two combined again just before the interval, with Onazi’s shot from distance parried by Bancha, and Ideye hitting his follow-up over the bar.

Salahdin Ahmed found himself free of the Nigeria defence after the break, but the in-form Vincent Enyeama rushed off his line to smother the ball before the Ethiopia No7 could get his shot away. Emenike then sprinted in behind the Ethiopian defence after a through ball by Onazi, but Bancha was quickly off his line to thwart the Fenerbahce frontman.