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Eagles escape defeat, hold Ethiopia 2-2

Eagles escape defeat, hold Ethiopia 2-2

Ike Uche celebrates his first goal with mates at the Abuja Stadium last night. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

*Guinea win 4-1

Joseph Yobo does not score often for Nigeria, but when he does, the goals tend to be decisive.

And so it proved again on Sunday in Addis Ababa, when he popped up at the back post to head in the goal that rescued Nigeria’s African Nations Cup chestnuts on 86 minutes.

Ike Uche put Nigeria in front after 27 minutes of borefest, but the rapier quick Saladin Said cancelled it out two minutes before halftime.

He was on hand to soon after the restate to take full advantage of defensive mixup to put the hosts ahead.
With Nigeria’s hopes gasping in the Ethiopian altitude, Yobo stole in at the back post in the nick of time to turn in Mikel Obi’s excellent free kick.

Other Nations Cup Results

Group E:  Mauritius 1-2 DR Congo

Group C:  Comoros 1-1 Libya

Group K:  Botswana 0-0 Malawi

Group A:  Zimbabwe 2-1 Mali

Group B: Ethiopia 2-2 Nigeria

Group H: Benin 2-3 Ivory Coast

Group I: Swaziland 1-2 Sudan

Group H: Burundi 3-1 Rwanda

Group D: Central African Republic 1-0 Tanzania

Group J: Angola 1-0 Kenya

Group A: Liberia 0-0 Cape Verde