Emmanuel Emenike was the hero of the day as Nigeria picked a vital 2-1 win against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on Sunday afternoon in their first leg play off of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

The Fenerbahçe striker was first on target at the 67 minute to neutralize a goal scored ten minutes earlier by Ethiopia’s midfielder Behailu Assefa before converting from the spot on 90 minutes as the Super Eagles flew out of Italy with a vital win ahead of the second leg.
Under the cruising Addis Ababa sun, it was the home side that took control of the game but found a perfect Enyeama between the sticks for Nigeria to deny them any scoring opportunity through out the first half.

The veteran stopper was however at fault ten minutes into the second half when he poorly read a cross-cum-shot by Assefa and could only collect the ball in the air when it had crossed the line as Ethiopia grabbed the lead.

The Super Eagles however did not wait long before getting back on level terms as Emenike held off his marker outside the Ethiopian penalty box before firing a shot past Ethiopian ‘keeper Tasew for the equaliser in the 67; minute.

Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi had been rewarded for his inspired substitutions in the second half to turn the game around but it was Emenike who won all the plaudits at the end after breezing past Ethiopian defender Hailu before he was tripped in the box to earn a penalty right at the end of the game.

The Fenerbache man kept his calm to send the ‘keeper the wrong way as Nigeria headed the right way towards Brazil carrying a 2-1 lead into the second leg.

The Ethiopians now have a mountain to climb going into the second leg on November 16 in Calabar where the Super Eagles have a pretty decent record.