The 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, which is being hosted in Kenya, group stage games return to action later today as the Ethiopian national side takes on Burundi in the lone Group B encounter in Kakamega.
The Waliya Antelopes come to the duel having beaten South Sudan 3-0 in their opening fixture courtesy goals from Abel Yalew and Abubakher Sanni while Burundi forced a barren draw against holders Uganda on Monday. Ethiopia trainer Ashenafi Bekele believes his charges can do better in the tie but requested time and patience as the team is working on their attacking proficiency. Converting scoring chances have been the biggest problem of the side during the South Sudan match.
Coach Ashenafi expressed his worry on the game as some of the players lost energy and time to recover after only taking a rest for a day. He told Soccer Ethiopia that the coaching staff might be open for changes in the starting lineup. “Our Players could only get rest for a day before tackling Burundi. That will be costly. The players we used during the South Sudan game were good and talented; however it will be very tough to use some of the players who are yet recover after the Tuesday game against South Sudan as some of the players are also injured. These things worry me but I will have a discussion with my colleagues to come up with an option. There is sayings that ‘Never change the winning team’ but as I said earlier we will talk through it and see what happens in the tie,” coach Ashenafi stated.
The national team conducted a light training session at the Kakamega School field on Wednesday, December 5. Striker Dawa Hotessa rested during the session after sustaining a knock on the opening fixture. The striker might not face Burundi later today in Bukhungu Stadium.
The last time Ethiopia and Burudni met was in the African Nations Championship game in Addis Ababa where Waliyas emerged a 3-0 win to secure a CHAN 2016 spot.
Today’s Fixtures
2:00 – Tanzania vs. Zanzibar (Machakos)
3:00 – Ethiopia vs. Burundi (Kakamega)
4:00 – Rwanda vs. Libya (Machakos)
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