By Arinze Ude
NIGERIA 2 – 0 ETHIOPIA
Two penalties from Victor Moses were enough to push Nigeria into the next round of African Cup of Nations.
The winger was brought down in the penalty area by defender Alula Girma with ten minutes left to play. Moses picked himself up to score the penalty kick.
If Moses had not scored, Zambia would have qualified ahead of Nigeria due to a better disciplinary record.
It would have been the first time since 1982 Nigeria had not made it to the knock-out stages.
Few minutes after scoring the penalty, Victor Moses was brought down again by Ethiopian goalkeeper, Sisay Bancha who was sent off.
With Ethiopia already using their three substitutions, midfielder Addis Hintsa was forced to be a stand-in goalkeeper. Victor Moses cooly slotted the penalty kick past the midfielder-turned-keeper.
The Ethiopians are still searching for their second win at the African Cup of Nations since 1962.
Ethiopia’s Line Up:
01 Bancha (Dismissed) – 02 Debebe (Booked), 04 Butaco, 06 Girma (Booked), 12 Elias (Booked) – 15 Estifanos (Teshome – 46′), 16 Saleh (Bogale – 68′), 21 Hintsa – 07 Said, 09 Kebede, 11 Oukri (Ibrahim – 46′)
Subs: 22 Tassew, 23 Tadelle, 05 Hailu, 10 Bogale, 03 Zinabu, 14 Teshome, 18 Bekele, 20 Assefa, 13 Ibrahim
Nigeria’s Line Up:
01 Enyeama – 03 Echiejile, 05 Ambrose, 14 Obobona, 22 Omeruo – 10 Mikel (Yobo – 90′), 13 Ogude (Booked), 19 Mbah (Booked) – 09 Emenike (Brown – 75′), 11 Moses, 15 Uche (Musa – 65′)
Subs: 16 Ejide, 23 Agbim, 02 Yobo, 06 Egwueke, 21 Oshaniwa, 04 Obiorah, 08 Brown, 12 Gabriel, 17 Onazi, 20 Igiebor, 07 Musa, 18 Uzoenyi
Ref: Bouchaib El AhrachAtt: 15,000BURKINA FASO 0 – 0 ZAMBIA
A draw ensured Burkina Faso’s passage into the next round of the African Cup of Nations at the expense of defending champions, Zambia.
This is the first time the Burkinabes have qualified for the Quarter-finals since 1998 when the competition was hosted on home soil.
The reigning champions started level on points with Nigeria and will rue tame shots from Collins Mbesuma and youngster, Rainford Kalaba.
This is the very first time since Algiers ’90, the defending Champions have gone out in the group stage.
Burkina Faso’s Line Up:
01 Diakite – 04 Kone, 08 P Koulibaly, 12 Panandetiguiri (Booked), 05 Koffi – 06 Kone, 07 Rouamba, 14 Balima (Dah – 46′, 18 Kabore – 10 Al Traore (Bance – 11′), 11 Pitroipa (Traore – 90′)
Subs: 23 Sanou, 03 H Traore, 13 Ouattara, 17 Rabo, 20 Sanou, 21 Traore, 22 Nakoulma, 02 Dah, 09 Dagano, 15 Bance, 19 PP Koulibaly
Zambia’s Line Up:
16 Mweene – 05 Himoonda, 06 Nkausa (Musonda – 17′ Booked), 13 Sunzu, 18 Mbola – 19 Sinkala, 08 Chansa (M Mulenga – 56′), 17 Kalaba, 03 Chisamba Lungu (Sakuwaha – 81′) – 09 Mbesuma, 20 Mayuka (Booked)
Subs: 01 Titima, 22 Munyao, 02 Kasonde, 04 Musonda, 10 Katongo, 14 Chivuta, 15 Njobvu, 21 Sakuwaha, 23 M Mulenga, 07 J Mulenga, 11 Katongo, 12 Chamanga
Ref: Neant AlioumAtt: 8,000
