Nigeria 2- 0 Ethiopia : Moses is the saviour as Super Eagles book confrontation with Cote d 'Ivoire

Nigeria's Super
Eagles finally
booked their
Africa Cup of
Nations quarter-
final place with a
2-0 victory against
the Walya
Antelopes of
Ethiopia on
Tuesday in
Rustenburg. Victor Moses was the hero of
the day as he won and converted the two
penalties that won the game.
The kickoff was taken by the white-clad
Super Eagles and they swooped on the
Ethiopians, who appeared cagey in the
opening minutes. Efe Ambrose had the
chance to repeat his Liberia heroics, but
his header went wide.
Another chance came soon after that with
Victor Moses’ free kick deflecting into the
hands of the Ethiopian goalkeeper.
Ikechukwu Uche went through on goal in
the fourth minute but keeper Sisay made
a diving stop at the feet of the striker.
Ethiopia showed their first intent in the
15th minute when star striker Said
Saluhdin headed wide. The Ethiopians
were playing the classic counter attack,
leaving the midfield to the Eagles. The
Walya Antelopes had the better of corner
kicks in the first half with four, but could
not make any count.
In the 24th minute, a good passing move
from the Eagles saw Uche pass to
Elderson Echiejile, who skied his shot. He
also had another chance in the 34th
minute off a corner kick from Moses, but
the goalkeeper parried.
Said caught the Eagles defence napping in
the 29th minute but his shot squirmed off
his boots into Vincent Enyeama’s grateful
gloves. The first half ended dourly as the
game settled into a game of cat and
mouse with the Ethiopians waiting to
catch the Eagles on the counter or
through set pieces.
The second half started with the
Ethiopians on the front foot as Estifinos
shot from 30 yards, but the effort was
tame.
With 25 minutes gone in the second half,
Sunday Mba got a yellow card for a lunge.
Afterwards Fegor Ogude collected his
second yellow card of the first round to
rule him out of the quarter-final.
Redemption finally came for the Eagles in
the 78th minute when Moses was scythed
down in the box for the penalty which he
took and calmly rolled to the left side of
Sisay for the Eagles to take the lead.
Three minutes later, Enyeama made a
great save off a Seid header that seemed
destined to be the equaliser. Mikel Obi
was given a yellow card for a foul on the
edge of the box and on the break away;
Moses rounded Sisay, who brought him
down for another penalty kick.
Ethiopia had to convert Adnan into an
emergency goal keeper to face Moses who
kicked to the makeshift keeper’s right to
record his second goal of the game and
of the tournament.
Five Nigerian players were a caution away
from missing the quarter final but only
Ogude will now miss the confrontation
with the Didier Drogba led Cote d’Ivoire
on Sunday in Rustenburg.