Ethiopia vs. Nigeria: The History of a Contest

This article reviews the footballing history that exists between Ethiopia and Nigeria ahead of their crunch World Cup Qualifying Match this weekend.

ANALYSIS
By Demola Dawodu

Nigerians are looking forward to the World Cup Qualifying double-header against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia with cautious optimism. The Super Eagles may possess a multi-talented group of players, but they will be acutely aware of the threats posed by their hosts.

Nigeria are ranked 36th in the world and 4th in Africa, with the Antelopes a distant 93rd in the FIFA rankings and 25th in the continental hierarchy. On paper, the gulf in class is colossal, but Ethiopia are an emerging force in African football. The East African side qualified for the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa after a 31-year absence and finished top of their World Cup qualifying group ahead of Bafana Bafana, even after being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player.

The Antelopes, coached by Sewnet Bishaw, are known for their slick passing and the high pressing game they exhibited at the last AFCON. However, the relative inexperience of the side might just be their undoing against a vastly talented Nigerian side who are, let us not forget, the reigning African champions. The Ethiopians, with their squad predominantly based in the nation’s top flight, may struggle against the diverse array of superstars that Stephen Keshi can call upon.

The two teams have met seven times before, with Nigeria winning four of those matches. Ethiopia recorded a famous victory against the Super Eagles in a 1994 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, while two further fixtures have ended in draws.

The two countries first locked horns at the 1982 AFCON in Libya, where Nigeria defeated Ethiopia 3-0. The current Super Eagles coach, the aforementioned Keshi, grabbed a brace on that eventful day. Ademola Adeshina also found the net.

The second meeting was an international friendly at the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in 1993 which the Eagles won by a goal to nil.

The sole Ethiopian victory was a 1-0 triumph on home soil in April 1993.

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The next meeting was on July 24, 1993, in the return leg of a 1994 Nations Cup qualifier when Nigeria thrashed the East Africans 6-0 with the late Rashidi 'Yeking' Yekini scoring a hat-trick in a thrilling game that also marked the international debut of Sunday Oliseh. Ethiopia’s one brief revolution against the established order was quashed swiftly and emphatically by Clemens Westerhof and his troops.