Peter Utaka and substitute Ikechukwu Uche scored two goals each to lead Nigeria to a 4-0 win over Ethiopia in an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday.
It was the first competitive win for Nigeria's new coach, Samson Siasia, who took over the troubled team after a poor performance at the World Cup last year and a corruption scandal had enveloped its management.
The game featured many Nigeria players returning to the team, perhaps in a bid to impress the man who led many of them as coach of the country's under-20 squad.
One of those players, Utaka, needed less than 30 seconds to make it 1-0 after the ball was deflected by an Ethiopian defender. He doubled the lead in the 53rd minute in a one-on-one chance with goalkeeper Zerihun Derese.
Utaka was replaced in the second half by Uche, who found the net in the 78th minute and then sealed the win in injury time as Nigeria's fans roared with approval in the country's National Stadium in Abuja.
For Siasia, the dominant win may placate the fans, many of whom had been referring to a team known as the Super Eagles as the ''Super Chickens.'' He previously coached the team to a friendly win over Sierra Leone in February, but questions remain about whether he'll be able to entice players back from European leagues to play in matches.
Siasia offered little after the game, instead repeatedly intoning the final score to journalists as a crowd of supporters could be heard shouting outside.
''The crowds are screaming outside'' he said. ''It's a good start.''
Ethiopia's team seemed hapless against Nigeria's faster players, with most of its attacks cut off before any attempts on goal.
''We've come up against a very experienced team with football players playing in top leagues in Europe,'' said Ethiopia coach Iffy Onuora, who is of Nigerian ancestry. We have ''a lack of experience against a higher class of opposition.''
