World Cup Qualifier: Nigeria and Ethiopia Competition history so far

MTNFootball.com gives a detailed recap of previous clashes between 2014 World Cup rivals Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Altogether, both teams have met seven times with Nigeria winning five of these matches.


Ethiopia recorded a famous victory over their more illustrious opponents in a 1994 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, while another match between them ended in a draw.


1982 Nations Cup Finals – Nigeria 3 Ethiopia 0
 
The first meeting between both countries was at the 1982 AFCON in Libya, where Nigeria thrashed Ethiopia 3-0. Current Eagles coach Stephen Keshi scored a brace in the game with Ademola Adeshina getting the other goal.


Friendly 1993 – Ethiopia 0 Nigeria 0

The second game was a friendly played in Addis Ababa in1993 and the Eagles won 1-0.


1994 Nations Cup qualifier – Ethiopia 1 Nigeria 0

The next game was a 1994 AFCON qualifier, where Ethiopia recorded their one and only victory over Nigeria. April 11, 1993 is still a red letter day in Ethiopia til this day.


1994 Nations Cup qualifier – Nigeria 6 Ethiopia 0

In the 1994 AFCON qualifier return leg in Lagos in 1993, Nigeria thrashed Ethiopia 6-0. Late goal king Rashidi Yekini scored a hat-trick in that game, which also was the international debut for a certain Sunday Oliseh.

How Eagles rate in last match vsEthiopia

2012 Nations Cup qualifier – Ethiopia 2 Nigeria 0

Star-studded Nigeria forced their hosts to a 2-2 in Addis Abba in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier. Ethiopia star striker Saledin Said scored a brace and it needed a late equaliser to salvage a point on the road for the Eagles against an inspired Ethiopian side.


2012 Nations Cup qualifier – Nigeria 4 Ethiopia 0

In 2011 at the Abuja National Stadium, the Eagles under coach Samson Siasia mauled the Ethiopians 4-0 in an AFCON qualifier, Peter Utaka and Ike Uche scored a brace each to earn Nigeria a convincing victory.


2013 Nations Cup Finals – Nigeria 2 Ethiopia 0

The last meeting was a 2-0 win for Nigeria at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, where Victor Moses scored a brace from the penalty spot to catapult the Eagles into the last eight of the tournament on their way to their third Nations Cup triumph

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Super Eagles media officer buries father in October

Pa Alaiya For Burial October 26


The Alaiya family of Ososo, Akoko Edo Local Government area of Edo State has announced burial programme for the late Head of the family, Pa Moses Jemila Alaiya, who died on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at the age of 72.




A statement from the first son of the late Alaiya, Ben Alaiya, said the burial will commence on October 25, with his laying in state at the Alaiya compound in Ikpena Quarters, Ososo, to be followed by an interdemoniational service.


Burial proper will hold on Saturday, October 26 at the family compound, while entertainments of guest follows at the same venue. The late Moses Alaiya is survived by wives and several children including General Manager/Editor-in-Chief Of SportsDay Newspapers, Ben Alaiya, who is also the Media Officer of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

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Keshi, Mikel Dispel Injury Feigning Theory

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi and Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi, have openly lampooned insinuations in some quarters that Mikel feigned injury to avoid playing in the 4-1 friendly win against Burkina Faso last Tuesday in Kaduna.


Keshi who spoke through Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor, said Mikel was injured even before he set out for Nigeria for the encounter but out of patriotism he offered to play the World Cup qualifier against Malawi. The doctors of the national team also passed him fit but not 100 per cent.

“In the early part of the game the calf injury nearly recurred but when the doctors signalled to him over what the situation was, he offered to continue the game. But after the game we had to review the situation and ask him to go for proper treatment at his club before their next game, instead of risking him against Burkina Faso in the friendly”, Keshi explained. The coach also said there was never any form of dissent from any member of the national team when Mike was excused and wondered where such stories are emanating from.

On his part, Mikel said he has never chosen games to play for the national team but has been ruled by the coaches choices and patriotism. “It’s sad if people hold such views about me but I am and will always be glad to play for Nigeria. But there is nothing I can do if I am injured and I am sure that Nigerians understand that fact. My teammates also understand because many of them have been excused from the team in the recent past on account of injuries”.

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CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2013: Esperance made it to the Semifinals

Ndjeng Joseph Yannick of EsperanceEsperance became the first side to book their place in the semifinals of the CAF Champions League when they defeated Recreativo do Libolo 3-2 at the Stade Olympique de Rades on Saturday night.

Yannick Ndjeng scored twice for the Tunisian side and Oussama Darragi added the third, while Rúben Gouveia replied with his own double for the visitors.

Ndjeng opened the scoring in the 4th minute to hand his side a 1-0 lead going into the break, but the Angolans were back on level terms soon after the restart as Ruben netted his first goal of the night.

Darragi put the home side ahead for the second time in the 53rd minute, but Ruben responded at the other end two minutes later as Recreativo tried to earn a valuable point away from home.But it wasn’t to be as Ndjeng completed his brace late in the game to ensure that his side walked away with all points on offer.

Esperance remain in top spot in Group B with 12 points, five ahead of second-placed Coton Sport, who will face Sewe Sport in Abidjan on Sunday.


mtnfootball





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Ameobi is a good character to have in the Team - Keshi

The Super eagles coach Stephen keshi has rated the newly invited player, Shola Ameobi higher after his debut for the national team in calabar against , Malawi in a world cup qualifying match and has also boasted that his team is not afraid to play any team after the final Leg of the world cup qualifier.


The Coach who spoke with SPORTDIVA.NET expressed his satisfaction towards his attitude on and off the pitch, Keshi said 'Shola Ameobi is a good player, he's a good character to have in the team, he's not just a selfish player, I like his attitude'

Speaking further if Shola will become part of his regular invite, Mr Keshi said 'Have I ever told you that I have a permanent player in my team, every player is expected to fight for a shirt, you must show that you deserve it'

'anyone that have to play, will show me what he's got'

About the draws, when the coach was asked which team he will love to play at the final leg of the world cup qualifier, Keshi said "we can play any team, all the team in Pot A and Pot B are good teams, people should just stop putting unnecessary pressure on the team, analysing which team we will likely play"

"everybody is scared of us as a team, but we are not afraid to play any team, we just have to respect the team we are going to be playing"

Inside Pot 1 is Ghana, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia and Nigeria; while Pot 2 comsost of Egypt, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal and Ethiopia

The draws will hold this week.

Aderonke Ogunleye





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Floyd Mayweather defeated Saul Alvarez

American Floyd Mayweather produced a masterclass as he outboxed Saul Canelo Alvarez to take the Mexican's WBA and WBC super welterweight titles by majority decision in Las Vegas on Saturday night.


The previously unbeaten Alvarez began by attempting to slow down Mayweather with stiff jabs and hooks to the body, but in response Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) snapped back his head with jabs of his own.

The more Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KOs) stepped forward and became aggressive, the more he left himself vulnerable to Mayweather's rapid counterpunches.After a relatively quiet opening few rounds, Mayweather began to open up in the fourth, snapping back Alvarez's head with a succession of jabs and then landing a sweeping right at the bell.

In the fifth, Mayweather stood in the pocket in front of Alvarez and landed a series of combinations that rattled his opponent.

When Alvarez attempted to pin Mayweather in the corner in the seventh, the American slipped most of his punches and answered with a right hand, followed by a sequence of jabs and an uppercut, before backing the Mexican to the ropes and picking him apart.It was the same in the 10th, Mayweather turning defense into offense as he landed counters off the ropes and sent Alvarez into retreat.

"I think if I had pressed the attack earlier, I could have got the stoppage. I like taking my time. But it was a great fight," five-division world champion Mayweather said.By the end, Alvarez cut a forlorn figure, following Mayweather around the ring as his foe retreated and circled to lure him into a trap.

The final result appeared a formality, and it was a surprise when one of the judges scored the bout a draw.She was overruled by scores of 117-111 and 116-112, which also seemed close but may have reflected the fact that Mayweather, seemingly confident of victory, effectively coasted through the final couple of rounds."I couldn't connect," Alvarez conceded.

"He was very elusive and intelligent. He has a lot of experience and I honestly couldn't find him. In the late rounds, I was frustrated. I recognize he beat me. He's a great fighter."Mayweather praised his fallen foe."I fought a true champion tonight," he said. "A guy like that can take a loss and bounce back from it. I've been in the sport 17 years, so just because I beat him the way I did, doesn't mean he doesn't have a great career ahead of him."


@aderonkew



Reuters

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I almost joined Arsenal in 2000 - Etoo Fils

The Chelsea striker has revealed he was on the verge of signing for Arsene Wenger before making his move to Mallorca permanent, with Luis Aragones key to the decision.

New Chelsea signing Samuel Eto'o has claimed he was on the verge of joining Arsenal earlier in his career.


The striker, who has been reunited with Jose Mourinho after joining on a free transfer from Anzhi Makhachkala in August, was struggling to break into the Real Madrid first team before joining Mallorca after a successful loan spell.

ETO'O SET FOR CHELSEA DEBUT4/1Samuel Eto'o is 4/1 with BetVictor to score over 14.5 league goals this seasonEto'o, however, has revealed Arsene Wenger was keen on his signature in 2000, only for Luis Aragones, then in charge at the Son Moix Stadium, to persuade him to make his temporary move permanent.

"I met Luis at a crucial moment in my life where I had to take the right direction - and thanks to him I did," Eto'o is quoted as saying by The Sun."I was about to sign that very afternoon at Arsenal and maybe I would have never been the player I am today. Luis picked me, then I ended up joining Barcelona.

"That decision changed everything."Eto'o went on score 54 goals in 135 Liga outings for Mallorca, winning the Copa del Rey in the process, before claiming three Liga titles and two Champions League winners' medals with Barcelona.

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