KIGALI, June 5 (Reuters) - Striker Obafemi Martins scrambled

a late equaliser to save Nigeria from a shock World Cup

qualifying defeat in Rwanda on Sunday.

Martins beat the offside trap to slot home a goal on the

breakaway with just 11 minutes left, earning Nigeria a 1-1 draw

in the African zone World Cup Group Four qualifier.

Rwanda looked on course for an upset when Jimmy Gatete put

them ahead eight minutes into the second half, finishing

superbly at the end of mazy run through the Nigerian defence.

Gatete had nearly opened the scoring just two minutes

earlier when he sneaked in behind defender Obinna Nwaneri but

lost control of the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Nigeria, playing without captain Austin Okocha and striker

Yakubu Aiyegbeni who failed to turn up for the match, looked

lethargic and were hampered by the difficult pitch conditions.

Captain Nwankwo Kanu was taken off just after the hour mark

and Martins rarely received any service.

Nigeria defender Joseph Yobo had an effort cleared off the

line by Rwanda in the 72nd minute before Inter Milan's Martins

grabbed the equaliser.

The result kept Nigeria top of the standings but only on

goal difference from Angola, who beat Algeria 2-1 in Luanda on

Sunday.