Ethiopia, huge home showdown with Kenya Wednesday

Every one of the teams has a chance to book a place in the 2019 African Nations’ Cup final to be held in host nation Cameroon. Ethiopia faces its counterpart Kenya on Wednesday at Baherdar Stadium in the group stage third round qualification showdowns while group favorite Ghana entertains Sierra Leone.
Despite claiming a low profile as a football player the newly appointed national Head Coach Abraham Mebratu appeared to revive the down the drain morale of the players and make them start to believe in themselves as they vowed never to lose at home. “We have vowed to stand together and make a Cup final dream come true. We are committed to each other never to lose a point on home soil,” Team skipper Getaneh Kebede remarked at a press conference.
Though a marginal 1-0 home victory in his debut international match against Sierra Leone appeared to chord low key, Waliya’s new boss Abraham managed to show off strong team work dominating ball possession. What is exciting about Abraham is that he hardly complains about the short period of preparation and interruption of his plans. Rather he argues we need to work according to FIFA international schedules therefore things will be better in the coming times. “Let us do things at hand now and wait for the changes to come in good time,” Abraham told reporters at the press conference.
An intensive seven days preparation in Baherdar in which the international players’ Shimeles Bekele Gatoch Panom, Oumed Oukri and Binyam Belay expected to join as of today, Waliyas full squad is said to be available except central defender Aschalew Tamene, his pairing Salhadin Bargecho and winger Behailu Assefa all three reported injured. A much anticipated home win against a side that defeated Ghana in Nairobi means Ethiopia could be positioned in pole position to strongly contend to return to Africa’s biggest Football stage.