As the referee brings the game to an end as torrential rains pour down on
Calabar, Nigeria become the first African representatives to Brazil
2014. It's 2-0 on the day and 4-1 on aggregate.
The African champions
(SUPER EAGLES) march on to the 2014 Fifa World Cup. We wish them success.
UP NAIJA!!!
The African champions, Nigeria, look close to reaching a fifth Fifa
World Cup finals after winning the first leg of this playoff against
Ethiopia in Addis Ababa by 2-1 in spite of concerns over weather.
Nigeria's Super Eagles have created a soft-landing for themselves ahead
of the second leg clash in Calabar this Saturday and it is now the
Ethiopians who have everything to play for.
It is going to be a tough ask for the Ethiopians to upset the
applecart and go on to win in Calabar where their East African rivals,
Kenya, where close to winning during one of the World Cup qualifying
games in March this year but for Nnamdi Oduamadi's late strike.
The Walias will definitely fancy their chances of taking a pop at the
Super Eagles just as their East African neighbours did on March 23. But
they are just one leg away from a first World Cup appearance should
they beat Nigeria in Calabar by at least 2-0 or any other two-goal
margin.
World Cup history
Talking of their World Cup history, the Ethiopians have none at the
finals proper except at qualifying level. The Walya Antelopes have never
qualified for the World Cup finals and this is their closest attempt at
a first appearance.
Sewnet Bishaw's men ruffled feathers in the ongoing qualification by
finishing top of Group A ahead of South Africa, Botswana and Central
African Republic in the second round after they were ducked three points
and three goals for fielding an ineligible player against Bostwana in
Lobatse in June.
On the other hand, the Super Eagles have made four previous
appearances at the Mundial in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010. The Nigerians
are now close to a fifth appearance.
Head-to-head meetings
It looks clear that Nigeria are favourites to nick the World Cup spot
ahead of Ethiopia after winning the first clash of the two-legged
playoff.
Nigeria have a domineering record against the Ethiopia in
head-to-head. In 10 previous matches, Nigeria have defeated Ethiopia
eight times and lost once while the only draw between both nations was a
2-2 outcome in June 2012 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game in
Addis Ababa.
The Super Eagles have scored 24 goals against Ethiopia and conceded
five since their first known meeting in 1968 when Nigeria won 3-1 in an
Olympic qualifier.
Ethiopia's only win against the Nigerians was a 1-0 win in Addis
Ababa in 1993 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier before they were
made to suffer their biggest loss of 6-0 at the National Stadium in
Lagos in the return leg.
This Saturday, both teams will meet for the 11th time and it will be a
decisive clash to determine who win the World Cup spot with players in
both sides raring to go.
Team news
Nigeria will be without the duo of Nosa Igiebor and Uche Nwofor who
are both injured. Their head coach, Stephen Keshi, has called up FC
Toronto forward, Bright Dike to take up Nwofor's place. The Nigerian
manager has continued to stick to a large number of the squad from the
2013 Africa Cup of Nations including recalling the duo of Kenneth Omeruo
and Gabriel Reuben.
The Ethiopians have 21-year-old Bidvest Wits striker, Getaneh Kebede
back for the Calabar leg of this playoff after he missed the game in
Addis Ababa owing to a knee injury.
Players to watch
Kebede is one of the standout players for Ethiopia in the 2014 World
Cup qualification. The striker has scored against Botswana and South
Africa. But Salhadin Said remains Ethiopia's biggest threat on the
offence. The 25-year-old has scored four goals in the qualification for
the Mundial against South Africa and Central African Republic.
But they will come up against a Nigerian squad filled with quality
from defence to attack. The Ethiopians will definitely keep tabs on
Emmanuel Emenike, who scored Nigeria's goals in Addis Ababa in the
reverse game. The Fenerbahce man is Nigeria's leading scorer this year
in international matches having netted eight goals while Godfrey
Oboabona has featured in 18 of the Super Eagles' 20 matches in 2013.
However, it is Liverpool man, Victor Moses, who has brought spark
into the Super Eagles style with his dribble runs as a wide man.
Culled From SuperSports
Outcome
Nigeria are overwhelming favourites ahead of this contest. Definitely
the African champions will finish off the Ethiopians in Calabar this
Saturday and book their place at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
As the referee brings the game to an end as torrential rains pour down on
Calabar, Nigeria become the first African representatives to Brazil
2014. It's 2-0 on the day and 4-1 on aggregate.
The African champions
(SUPER EAGLES) march on to the 2014 Fifa World Cup. We wish them success.
UP NAIJA!!!