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 today and it is now the Ethiopians who have everything to play for.
It is going to be a tough task 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.
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.
Kick off time is 4 p.m.
