Ethiopian U-17 national side nick named “Red Foxes” encounters its Ugandan counterpart in the CECAFA Zonal qualification group opening match today. Ten national teams including the host Tanzania took part in the tournament from which the Champion and Runner-up book a place in 2019 African U-17 Cup final.
Seven of the twenty squad members selected from national champions Hawassa, the Red Foxes under head coach Temesgen Dana are boasting the service of 14 year-old Ethio-Swedish Naanol Tesfaye currently under the hot radar of European Clubs including Manchester City and Leeds United.
The hosts Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan are potted in group “A” while Ethiopia, Kenya, title favorites Uganda, Southern Sudan and Djibouti are drawn in group “B” with Chamazi the venue for the group stage.
The group opening match today against Uganda, the second showdown against Djibouti takes place on Tuesday followed by the match against South Sudan next Sunday then the group final match against Kenya on the 22nd of August. Four matches in eleven days Red Foxes that are in Camp for three weeks in the resort town Hawassa are expected to go past the group stage. “This time fill no doubt about the players’ age for the MRI test was under the Eagle eyed professionals. We are ready to give the best that we can” Temesgen Dana told reporters on their departure to Darussalam on Wednesday.
Hosts Tanzania is the hot favorite to win group “A” where Sudan and Rwanda are the dark horses capable of any surprises. Ending a 20 years-old stand-off with Ethiopia and now busy making a head on progress in the dramatic Peace, Love and Unity campaign spear head by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Eritrea is the only absentee of the zonal championship.