Video: World Cup 2014; Lucky Nigeria...!!! Beat Ethiopia 2-1...!!!

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Nigeria survived a scare in Addis Ababa as the African champions rallied
to beat Ethiopia 2-1 in the opening leg of their World Cup play-off.

BBC Sport
October 13, 2013

The hosts were the superior team for the first hour and led after 56 minutes as Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama misjudged a cross from Behailu Assefa.
Nigeria, who were not at their best, equalised through Emmanuel Emenike's ferocious drive after 67 minutes.

Emenike then won and scored a penalty late on to seal a barely-deserved win.

The match was in the 90th minute when Aynalem Hailu needlessly brought the Nigerian down, so allowing the Turkey-based striker to coolly slot home a decisive goal.

"Ethiopia's play scared us in the first half but we showed why we are the African champions in the second half - that's what makes the difference," assistant coach Daniel Amokachi told BBC Sport.

Bidding to qualify for their fifth World Cup in six attempts, Stephen Keshi's side grew stronger as the game wore on and could have led after 77 minutes as Ahmed Musa thumped a close-range strike against the inside of the post.

Defeat was cruel on Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw, whose impressed with their technical play but who lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

Trying to become the first East African nation to appear at a World Cup, the Walya Antelopes thought they had opened the scoring after 24 minutes through Saladin Said.

The forward controlled a long diagonal ball well and managed to beat Enyeama only to see Gofrey Oboabona clear off the line, with many inside a packed Addis Ababa Stadium - Said included - believing a goal had been scored.

So there was a hint of irony when Ethiopia made the breakthrough in similar style as Enyeama was slow to react to a left-wing cross from Assefa, with the Nigerian badly positioned as he caught the ball behind the line.

There was a split second of hesitation before the home fans realised a goal had been scored, prompting an outpouring of celebration from the hordes of colourful Ethiopian supporters.