Waliyas shock mighty Elephants in Bahirdar

A heroic surprise come back at fully packed Baherdar International stadium on Tuesday against group mighty Ivory Coast, Ethiopia heated up the group qualification race. ” The victory is a huge moral boosting result for my team which is improving game after games” First ever significant victory with Waliyas national coach Abraham Mebratu suggested after the historic home win.
Though the visitors boasted a star studded over confident side and managed to an early lead, the home side that brought midfielder Tafesse Solomon and striker Addis Gedey in the starting lineup battled back in kind thus a deserved equalizer at the 14th minute a deflected marvelous free kick from Surafel Dagnachew.
Leading by example team skipper Shimeles Bekele dribbled through Ivorians strong defense to a splendid finish half way in to the first half.
Back in the second half it was Waliya’s that dominated both ball possession and creating better goal chances.
A 1-0 away defeat to Madagascar three days earlier, the result on Tuesday over one of the continent’s giant side meant a lot to struggling Waliya’s as well a life extending line to Abraham who had been under huge pressures from every side.
Destroying Niger at its own turf to 4-0 drubbing, Madagascar is now in the group driving seat with six points from two matches while Ethiopia sitting second with equal three points with third place Ivory Coast. Niger is bottom of the table with no points and five goal deficits.
Next qualification fixtures nine months from now, Abraham is much anticipated to bring his words ” My team is in real progress” to come true. A hard to believe three points from The Elephants and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Madagascar, things appear Ethiopia has a good chance to finish at least second if no surprise from Niger in the coming double encounters. Nigeria. Senegal, Ghana and Algeria are the only four sides that secured six points from two matches.