Singing in the Rain - Nigerians celebrate their Brazil ticket in Calabar
Nigeria's Super Eagles became the first African team to reach the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil after defeating Ethiopia 2-0 in Calabar on Saturday.
The Nigerians reach their fifth Mundial on a 4-1 aggregate against the Ethiopians having won the first leg 2-1 in Addis Ababa last month.
Goals from Victor Moses and Obinna Nsofor ensured that the African champions beat Ethiopia though it was not the most smooth games for the Nigerians.
Inside the sixth minute, Ethiopian goalkeeper, Sisay Bancha pulled off a double save from Emmanuel Emenike and Moses.
Ethiopia's resistance was broken 14 minutes later when Moses scored from the spot after Hailu Aynalem was adjudged to have handled the ball in his own goal area by Gambian referee, Bakary Gassama.
It was Moses' third goal from the spot against Ethiopia in 2013.
On the half hour mark, Moses again stung Bancha's palms before the Ethiopians cleared their lines.
A minute later, Brown Ideye headed wide from close range as Nigeria turned on the heat on Ethiopia.
Two minutes before the break Onazi's shot from range forced Bancha into a diving save and Ideye bombed the rebound into the stands.
But Nigeria looked comfortable going into the break with a 3-1 aggregate.
The second half started with a scare for Nigeria at the back. Ethiopians thought they had won a penalty after Salhadin Said went down in the box but Gassama waved play to ride on.
Just past the hour mark, Emenike was put through on goal but his low shot was kept out by the impressive Ethiopia goalkeeper Bancha.
In the 63rd minute, Said raced at Nigeria's defence before he was tripped by Kenneth Omeruo on the edge of the box off Omeruo. But the Ethiopians did not make use of the chance.
But the Ethiopians had a spell of possession in the midfield as the rain started to pour down heavily in Calabar.
Ethiopia's spell of possession fizzled out in the rain when Nsofor rifled home from a free kick to put the game to bed in the 82nd minute.
Nsofor had only spent just three minutes on the pitch after coming on for Moses.
Nigeria had previously appeared at the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010 Fifa World Cup finals.
The African champions will play Italy in their first pre-World Cup game in London on Monday.
The Nigerians reach their fifth Mundial on a 4-1 aggregate against the Ethiopians having won the first leg 2-1 in Addis Ababa last month.
Goals from Victor Moses and Obinna Nsofor ensured that the African champions beat Ethiopia though it was not the most smooth games for the Nigerians.
Inside the sixth minute, Ethiopian goalkeeper, Sisay Bancha pulled off a double save from Emmanuel Emenike and Moses.
Ethiopia's resistance was broken 14 minutes later when Moses scored from the spot after Hailu Aynalem was adjudged to have handled the ball in his own goal area by Gambian referee, Bakary Gassama.
It was Moses' third goal from the spot against Ethiopia in 2013.
On the half hour mark, Moses again stung Bancha's palms before the Ethiopians cleared their lines.
A minute later, Brown Ideye headed wide from close range as Nigeria turned on the heat on Ethiopia.
Two minutes before the break Onazi's shot from range forced Bancha into a diving save and Ideye bombed the rebound into the stands.
But Nigeria looked comfortable going into the break with a 3-1 aggregate.
The second half started with a scare for Nigeria at the back. Ethiopians thought they had won a penalty after Salhadin Said went down in the box but Gassama waved play to ride on.
Just past the hour mark, Emenike was put through on goal but his low shot was kept out by the impressive Ethiopia goalkeeper Bancha.
In the 63rd minute, Said raced at Nigeria's defence before he was tripped by Kenneth Omeruo on the edge of the box off Omeruo. But the Ethiopians did not make use of the chance.
But the Ethiopians had a spell of possession in the midfield as the rain started to pour down heavily in Calabar.
Ethiopia's spell of possession fizzled out in the rain when Nsofor rifled home from a free kick to put the game to bed in the 82nd minute.
Nsofor had only spent just three minutes on the pitch after coming on for Moses.
Nigeria had previously appeared at the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010 Fifa World Cup finals.
The African champions will play Italy in their first pre-World Cup game in London on Monday.
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