Addis Team Clips Eagles’ Wings

Tunde Sulaiman

5 June 2011

Four days after upsetting Argentina 4-1 in an international friendly, Nigeria’s Super Eagles were brought crashing down to earth when they could only manage a 2-2 with Ethiopia in a more important Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday.

Following their stunning win over the South Americans, the Super Eagles arrived Addis Ababa as overwhelming favourites to collect maximum points and impose their will on Group B.

But they faced a stubborn Ethiopian side reborn under newly-appointed Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet.

Ikechukwu Uche gave the visitors the lead after 26 minutes but Saladin Seid equalised just before the break.

Seid then gave Nigerian fans the shock of their lives when he put Ethiopia in front before Joseph Yobo rescued a point for Samson Siasia’s outfit.

The draw now means that Siasia’s lads still face a tricky road to next year’s Nations Cup finals with them being on level points with Guinea, who has a game in hand.

Nikki Rixon/Twenty Ten/Africa Media Online

Half a continent away from their fans, Nigeria could not overcome Ethiopia in the altitude of Addis Ababa.

Guineais expected to beat Madagascar later in the day to once again extend their lead to three points in the group in which only the winner is assured of automatic qualification to next year’s Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

This afternoon’s result means the Eagles must do everything possible to get their pound of flesh when they host Guinea in the final game in October. Guinea won the first encounter 1-0 courtesy of a fifth minute Kevin Constant strike in September.

In fact Nigeria is still lucky to be in a position to still challenge for the ticket but for a massive helping hand from bottom team Madagascar, who held Guinea to a 1-1 draw in Antananarivo in March.

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