Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute
penalty and Victor Obinna added an 82nd-minute free kick for the second-leg
success and a 4-1 aggregate win in the two-legged tie after Nigeria also won in Addis Ababa in last
month’s first leg.
The 2-0 home win in the second leg in Calabar on
Saturday means the reigning African champions have reached the finals for the
fifth time, having played in four of the last five tournaments.
Moses tucked the spot kick away in the 20th minute
while Obinna provided a rare piece of magic during a dull game, curling home a
free kick eight minutes from time soon after coming on as as substitute.
Nigeria were runaway favourites to finish the job
after winning in Addis Ababa in last month’s first leg but they were largely
uninspiring.
Perhaps they was because their progress to Brazil was
never seriously in doubt after Ethiopia defender Aynalem Hailu was harshly adjudged to have
handled in the penalty area as he took a shot in his midriff but could do
nothing to prevent it running up his outstretched arm.
Hailu will want to forget the tie as soon as he can as
he also gave away the penalty at the conclusion of the first leg which
initially tipped the tie Nigeria’s way.
Moses sent Ethiopia keeper keeper Sisay Bancha the
wrong way to the delight of the home crowd, who were drenched by a tropical
storm in the second half but still celebrated with some passion after the final
whistle.
Obinna, recently recalled to the squad, strengthened
his claim for a place in the finals with a rasping effort that gave Bancha no
chance.
But overall it was an uninspiring performance from Stephen Keshi‘s men who also missed several
good chances.
Emmanuel Emenike, who scored both goals in the first
leg, should have put Nigeria head in the sixth minute as Ethiopia’s defence
failed to clear a long throw, which bounced Emenike at the back post.
Off balance as he struck, Bancha turned it round the
post with a fine one-handed save.
Brown Ideye headed wide at the back post in the 31st
minute, again given time and space by a visiting defence caught ball-watching.
Ogenyi Onanzi produced a fine diving save out of
Bancha as half-time approached with a long range shot delivered with some
power.
An increasingly desperate Ethiopia had two penalty
appeals turned down early in the second half but never managed to produce a
decent goal scoring chance.
Another four African play-off ties will be decided
over the next four days with the next clash later on Saturday between Senegal
and the Ivory Coast. Source : New-update
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