Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles manager, has told reporters that he will not be taking the November 16 World Cup qualification 2nd leg match against Ethiopia in Nigeria for granted and would leave no stone unturned to ensure his team’s qualification.
Nigeria came from a goal behind against Ethiopia on Sunday to eventually win the game 2-1 in Addis Ababa, thanks to two goals scored by Emmanuel Emenike.
All three goals were scored during the second half of the game.
Playing in high altitude, the Super Eagles, who arrived in Ethiopia only 24hrs before the match lost the ball possession battle to the hosts throughout the first half of the game.
Emenike’s equaliser came in the 67th minute of the match and he scored another penalty in the 90th minute to end the game 2-1 in favour of Nigeria.
Statistically, the Super Eagles have scored more goals during the second half than they have score during the first 45-minutes of all the matches they have played in the past.
Speaking on the FIFA.com website, coach Keshi said, “We still have to go play Ethiopia at home as if we never played them, and we’ll take it from there,”
Keshi was speaking with reporters after the match in Addis Ababa.
He commended Ethiopia’s Waliya Antelopes, who fought hard to keep up with the the Eagles in the first half only to tire down the final stretch.
“Ethiopia were awesome today – they played good,” Keshi said of a team who took an early second-half lead through Behailu Assefa.
“We (went) with our game plan, we just wanted to see how Ethiopia play at home,” he said amid lively celebrations from Nigerian supporters dancing and waving flags. Keshi remains confident his team’s second leg play-off on 16 November 16 secure a ticket to the World Cup.
“We will be the winners in Nigeria. We have to go to Brazil,” Keshi said.
