CAF Instructor Abraham Mebratu made history as the first ever Ethiopian soccer Coach to lead a foreign national team to the Asian Cup final. “It is incredible to be part of this historic moment and I am grateful to the Ethiopian’s living in Qatar who have supported us by attending every match,” the charming Abraham remarked.
The former Ethiopia Bunna Head coach later turned CAF Instructor has been involved in Yemeni football for the past six years and he has worked miracles there, helping the National Olympic team to its first ever 2013 Asian Olympic championship and then a new chapter after just five years steering the war torn nation to its first ever Asian Continental Cup final.
Despite playing all their home matches in Qatar because of the ongoing conflict in the country, Yemen managed to finish runner-up of the group, two points behind the champion Philippines with ten points from six matches. “It is really very hard to qualify for such a huge tournament fielding exiled players far from home longing for the love of country and family.
“Thanks to the player’s commitment the football loving and humble nation has something to celebrate, we made it in to the Cup final,” Abraham remarked.
The 17th Asian Cup final scheduled to be played in January in the United Arab Emirates, will have an expanded 24-team field, eight more than the previous tournament. Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Syria, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the participants.