The Super Eagles of Nigeria who began their last group match against Ethiopia as favorites clinched their quarter-final berth with a (2-0) defeat of a resilient Ethiopian side which ended the match with ten men following the expulsion of their goalkeeper, Biancha for a foul against Victor Moses who scored Nigeria’s two goals from the penalty spot.
Nigeria went into the game chasing their first win, while Ethiopia were bottom of the group with a point. The Super Eagles had their backs to the wall after drawing their first two matches against Burkina Faso and defending champions Zambia. They finished in second place in Group C with five points behind Burkina Faso with a better goal difference, having beaten Ethiopia (4-0).
Ikechukwu Uche started the match while team captain Joseph Yobo, who faced a late fitness test started from the bench and was introduced towards the end of the match.
Victor Moses scored two penalties at the 79th and 90th minutes but he scored the second with an Ethiopian player in the goal after their goalkeeper was sent off for two bookable offences. Ethiopia had already made three substitutions, so one player had to take the goalkeeper’s jersey and enter the goalposts.
When the teams last clashed, in Addis Ababa two years ago in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifying match, it ended 2-2 with Nigeria needing a last-gasp equalizer. Nigeria had won the first meeting (4-0) in Abuja.
Nigeria and Ethiopia entered the final group game knowing they both needed to find their first win in the competition to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. Nigeria were one of the favorites before the competition but, having conceded late equalizers in their first two games, stand third in the table behind reigning champions Zambia, and surprise package Burkina Faso.The Super Eagles have not failed to reach the last eight since 1982 in Libya, where they finished third in a group including Ethiopia and Zambia
The Super Eagles will like face tournament favorites, Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals in a match bookmakers have predicted will be a hard nut to crack for Stephen Keshi and his boys who have to up their game if they intend to make it to the semi-finals.
