Preview: Visitors seeking rare victory over favourites Nigeria
Nigeria are on the brink of closing the year 2013 on a high. The senior national team commenced their journey with a historic triumph in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations held in South Africa. They eventually qualified for the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. Although they failed to get out of their group, they earned a valuable experience in Brazil.
Earlier in November, the country’s U-17 team went on to claim gold at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Dubai. The Super Eaglets created a new record in the process by becoming the most successful nation in the competition with four trophies, above Brazil’s three.
Nigeria’s senior national team is now keen to make of November 16, 2013 a date to remember by booking a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. To achieve this, the Super Eagles will have to finish off Ethiopia. They carry a 2-1 advantage over the East Africans who now need a two-goal margin victory or a reverse of the 2-1 score line to send the game into extra-time and possibly win it all.
The challenge is huge for the Ethiopians. They dream of making their first ever World Cup appearance against a strong side that has participated in the tournament four times already – in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010. Moreover, the Walias’ history against the Nigerians is poor: Ethiopia have beaten their West African opponents only once in 10 meetings, losing as many as eight of those.
Interestingly, even a repeat of their only triumph over Nigeria (a 1-0 home victory in a AFCON 1993 qualifying match) will not be enough to push Sewnet Bishaw’s men through to Brazil 2014. But even if all the odds are against them, Ethiopia are going into Saturday’s African World Cup qualifying playoff match full of desire to succeed, as defender Abebaw Butako told SuperSport.com:
“We might have lost to Nigeria at home but I always believe with hard work and God on our side we can upset the form book in Nigeria as nothing is impossible.”
Where to watch the match – live stream, start time, TV channels, live scores
Watch Nigeria vs Ethiopia live on Saturday, November 16, 2013:
In Canada at 10:00 ET on: beIN Sport Play Canada
In UK at 15:00 BST on: BT Sport 2
In USA at 10:00 ET on: beIN Sport en Español, beIN Sport USA, beIN Sport Play, SiriusXM FC
If you are in Nigeria and Ethiopia, tune into SuperSport 3 Africa. Are you located elsewhere? For our worldwide live listings as well as live scores upon kick-off, visit the Nigeria-Ethiopia match page.
