Emmanuel Emenike scored brace as Nigeria beat Ethiopia 2-1 in the first leg of World Cup Qualifiers

     Emmanuel Emenike scored a late penalty which gave Nigeria a 2-1 win in the first leg of their third-round World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia. Emenike cancelled out Behailu Assefa's fluke opener and then won and converted a spot-kick in the closing stages. Ethiopia led when Assefa's misdirected cross from the left in the 57th minute deceived Vincent Enyeama and was adjudged to have crossed the line before the keeper could claw it out. There was no such confusion about Nigeria's equaliser as Emenike worked himself some space 25 yards out and his piledriver found the net despite goalkeeper Jemal Tassew getting a hand to the ball. Ahmed Musa went close to a second for Nigeria when he lashed the ball past Tassew but against the near post. For Ethiopia, Saladin Ahmed failed to control a dangerous cross in front of goal and Addis Hintsa could not make a meaningful contact with a header when equally well placed. But Nigeria gained a vital advantage to take into next month's second leg when Aynalem Hailu hauled down Emenike in the box and the striker casually rolled home the penalty.