Nigeria wins in World Cup playoffs

Emmanuel Emenike converted a 90th-minute penalty for a second-half brace to lead Nigeria to a 2-1 win in Ethiopia in their World Cup playoff on Sunday, putting the African champion in a strong position to play at football's main event in Brazil next year.

In Sunday's other playoff game, Samuel Eto'o reversed his brief international retirement and captained Cameroon in a 0-0 draw in Tunisia in its first leg, leaving his country with a slight advantage ahead of its home game next month.

Nigeria, this year's African Cup winner, needed a late comeback in Addis Ababa after a determined Ethiopia dominated with its high-paced passing game for the first hour. Nigeria's Godfrey Oboabona had to clear off the line in the 23d minute to deny Saladin Said an early goal for the Ethiopians, and Behailu Assefa then put the hosts ahead in the 57th when goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama fumbled his shot into the net.

But Fenerbahce forward Emenike equalized 10 minutes later and struck from the spot at the end to give Nigeria a lead to take to its home leg in Calabar on Nov. 16. Ethiopia is trying to reach its first-ever World Cup but was left to rue a string of missed early chances as Nigeria closed in on its fifth trip to the tournament out of the last six.

On Saturday, Didier Drogba scored as Ivory Coast beat Senegal, 3-1, and Burkina Faso edged Algeria, 3-2.