Nigeria Qualifies For Brazil 2014

The Nigeria Super Eagles, has booked their place in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, by beating Ethiopia 2 - 0 in the second leg encounter, at the U.J Esuene Stadium, in Calabar on Saturday. The Super Eagles had already beaten the Walya Antelopes 2 - 1 in the first leg in Addis Ababa, last month. Nigeria qualify for the summer soccer fiesta on a 4 - 1 aggregate scoreline.

The match was keenly contested, with the Nigerians creating more chances, which were not utilized as was anticipated, by their teeming fans that filled the stadium.

Nigeria's first goal came in the 18th minute, when Victor Moses' shot hit Aynalem Hailu, on his left hand and the referee Mr B. Gassama, awarded Nigeria a penalty. Victor Moses, calmly took a very good shot, directing the goalkeeper, Sisay Bancha, the wrong side for a 1 - 0 lead.

 

 

The first half of the match ended with the 1 - 0 in favour of the African Champions. The second half began much like the first half. The pacey Ethiopians had good possession of the ball but could not creat the much needed chances to score.

The Nigerians on the other hand played very well, though they did not dominate the match, as much as some fans were expecting them to do. Their experience in the international stage was came in handy, as they kept on pressing for another goal. They also defended very well.

The Super Eagles second goal came at the 80th minute, when Emenike was fouled as he was about to beat Bargicho, near the edge of his box. The referee gave Nigeria free kick. Victor Obinna Nsofor, who came in two minutes earlier on as a substituted for Victor Moses, took the free kick, which curled into the far post, beating Bancha the keeper, who could have done better.

Obinna Nsofor's free kick goal brought the scoreline to 2 - 0 and that was how the match ended, damping the hope of Ethiopians of upstaging Nigeria to the World Cup.

Nigeria is the first of the five African teams to qualify for the 2014 FIFA world Cup in Brazil. This is Nigeria's fifth World Cup qualification. Had it been that Ethiopia defeated Nigeria, it would have been their first world Cup qualification in their history.

Nigeria will now go ahead and start making good preparations for the tournament proper in Brazil. But before the players can go home, they have a friendly match in two days time in London against Italy. Congratulations to Nigeria, for their fifth World Cup qualification.

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