After a very disappointing 3-2 loss at home to Algeria the Ethiopian National Women’s team was kicked out of the Total African Women’s Cup of Nations Final.
“We missed some chances and the early goals sent us into disarray and frustration. Otherwise I am happy with my team’s performance,” the coach of Lucy Selam Zeray remarked.
They had a goal disadvantage from losing the first game 3-1. However, they thought playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd or the Algerian side playing conservative might help them. However this was not the case and Lucy was denied a return to the cup final for the fifth time. It took only 18 minutes for hard working striker Naima Bouhani to send Lucy to total confusion and frustration. For Lucy their few goal scoring chances from Losa Aberra were denied by Algerian goalie Kahina Takenent. Then the visitors doubled their lead thanks to Fatima Sekauane’s header at the stroke of the break.
When they came back from the dressing room Lucy played hard but French based Meriam Benlazzar hammered in the final nail following the rebound from Bouhani’s low drive.
Unleashing a powerful low drive from twenty meters, Loza gave a life line to the home side at the 63rd minute then headed in the second from Tigist Zewde’s low cross. Despite the late efforts from Lucy, the game ended in a 3-2 victory to the Algerians who booked a flight to Ghana in a 6-3 aggregate victory. “Ethiopians are playing good football but we were here to win and secure a fifth appearance in the Cup final. I really admired the fans and there is the potential for women’s football to flourish,” suggested the happily smiling Algerian Head Coach.