Ethiopia a game away from qualifying for World Cup – live on TV

Marooned in the lifeless desert that is the international break, punters looking for a bit of live football to keep them going until next weekend could do worse than the World Cup qualifier second leg between Nigeria and Ethiopia (BT Sport 3pm GMT).

Nigeria are huge favourites at 2/9 to make their fifth World Cup finals, although they are not the force they have been in previous years. They are currently ranked 33 in the FIFA rankings, just two notches better than Scotland.

To find Ethiopia’s standing in the world though, you have to head out to the more exotic reaches of the rankings, to 95, beyond even Northern Ireland.

Ethiopia are 14/1 to register a win that would take them to their first ever World Cup finals, yet chances of an Ethiopian upset are as remote as its “Roof of Africa” highlands.

The draw is available at 9/2.

This is the furthest the Walya antelopes have ever been in World Cup qualifying, and any confidence they may have will come from bettering South Africa, including beating them 2-0 in Addis Ababa and drawing with them in Rustenburg in their qualifying group.

In spite of being nicknamed after a particularly elegant traveller, the Walyas don’t much care for the road. They won in the Central African Republic in September in qualifying, but you have to go back to 2010 and a win over Zambia in the CECAFA Cup for their previous away victory.

The last time they played in Nigeria they suffered a 4-0 reverse in 2011.

Similarly, Nigeria don’t much care to extend much generosity to visitors. They haven’t lost at home to an African team for at least ten years.

Punters may be best off wagering on a Nigeria to win to nil at 6/10,  or if feeling particularly daring, a draw at half time, Nigeria at full time at 13/5.