Ethiopian Women national side “Lucy” returned home after a 3-1 AWCON first leg qualification defeat to the hosts Algeria. The second leg is due to take place on Wednesday here in Addis Ababa, head coach Selam Zeray and company are optimistic they can turn around the two goal deficit and fly to Ghana for the Nations Cup final. “With the backing of the home crowd and the famous Addis Ababa high attitude, we have every advantage to go past the qualification stage and join the continent’s heavy weights in Ghana-Accra,” Selam told reporters.
The empty stadium due to the Ramadan Fasting season must have helped the visitors for they appeared to be bold and jumped on Lucy’s mistakes and halfhearted goal attempts. They even went further when Rehima Zergaw headed in the opener just fifteen minutes in to the whistle. Nevertheless the goal appeared to disturb the players’ mentality because silly mistakes and defensive errors followed suit. Three minutes later Medina Ramdeni grabbed the equalizer thus Lucy totally surrendered the match to the hosts as they became bolder and went for an all-out attack. Adia Adom added the second at 32nd minute followed by number of goal misses from the hosts.
Back from the dressing room it was all the same depression among the Ethiopian side whereas Algerians mounted pressure after pressure before Fatima Sekowune hammered the final nail halfway through the second half.
With the likes of senior players Losa Aberra and Senayet Bogale unusually quiet, the defense disarrayed with the hosts easily go past through, long and short passes wrongly footed and some fantastic saves from the goalie, Lucy turned up lucky for the result stood 3-1 at the final whistle.
“It is not as such a big deal losing with that score line for that one goal advantage meant a lot at home. I am sure with some adjustments Lucy has the potential of scoring more than two goals and sure they will qualify for the Cup final” one who travelled along with the team suggested. “Selam need to work out on how to score in the first fifteen minutes then after it is going to be an easy job” he added.
The one-goal life line at hand the return leg will take place on Wednesday at Addis Ababa Stadium with the aggregate winner securing a place in 2018 Ghana Cup final.