Ethiopia will hope to start their African U20 Cup of Nations qualifiers campaign on a bright note when they host Eastern neighbors Somalia Today at the Addis Ababa stadium. The Ethiopian U20 National team, nicknamed ‘the red foxes’, have been training for the last couple of weeks under the watchful eye of former Muger Cement FC coach Girma Habteyohanes and will be looking to reach the finals of the competition for the first time since 2001 when the country hosted the tournament.
Coach Girma Habteyohannes, renowned for his focus on the youth during his long tenure in club football, has narrowed down the number of his players to 25 from an initial list of 67, and has players of Premier League, Super League and Addis Ababa Youth League experience in his squad.
The Somali U20 National team had an extended period of preparation in comparison having pitched camp since January. The Somali team also had the opportunity to play friendly games against local clubs in the team’s 2 week stay in Nairobi, a luxury not provided to their Ethiopian counterparts. Coach Mohammed Abdella, popularly known by the nickname ‘Faroyare’ is hopeful of a respectable outing this time round after his side was knocked out of the last qualifiers after a 6-0 thrashing by Sudan.
“We are training well for the game. The team has been together for more than 2 months and this has been beneficial to us. We had a good preparation back home, and also in Nairobi. We have been in Addis for the last 4 days. We are adapting to the climate of Ethiopia,” Abdella said regarding the grounding of his team.
The coach is also confident that his band of young players from the recently reformed football leagues of Somalia can challenge the favorites.
“We are looking for a good result in Today’s game. Defending well and clinical use of our chances to score an away goal are what we have been working on. We will try to bring the best out of our players.”
Coach Girma Habteyohannis is on the other hand hoping to make the first round games a stage of learning ahead of more demanding games against teams of more fearsome stature as the qualifiers progress. Speaking to Soccer Ethiopia from the team’s base at ‘Ethiopia Hotel’, the coach said that the games against Somalia will be the perfect beta test for the team, and that it will help him in cracking the dilemmas encountered during the selection process of the team.
“I believe we have enough might in our team to overcome Somalia, with all due respect to our opposition. But this doesn’t mean our team is in its best state possible. Because we did not have the opportunity to play friendly games, our team is still largely untested. So the first match in the qualifiers will be a good opportunity to learn more about our players and make the necessary adjustments ahead of future games. But as I said, I believe we have a good team.”
With West African giants Ghana lying in wait in the second round, the Ethiopians’ confidence will benefit greatly if they are to announce their arrival in the qualifiers with a bang, comprehensively beating their Somali counterparts.
The game is expected to kickoff Today at 4PM at the Addis Ababa National stadium.
Ethiopia’s 25 man squad for the African U20 Cup of Nations Qualifiers
GOAL KEEPERS
Teklemariam Shanko – Addis Ababa Ketema
Kibreab Dawit – Hawassa Ketema
Beshir Delil – Muger Cement
Mintesinot Yegile – Dedebit
DEFENDERS
Dagim Nigussie – Wolaita Dicha
Fetudin Jemal – Wolaita Dicha
Tesfaye Shibiru – Addis Ababa Police
Mujeid Mohammed – Mekelakeya
Haider Mustafa – Jimma Aba Buna
Eneyew Kassahun – Addis Ababa Ketema
Desta Demu – Muger Cement
Yassin Jemal – Addis Ababa University
Daniel Rahmeto – Addis Ababa Police
MIDFIELDERS
Merwan Raya – Muger Cement
Eyasu Tamiru – Ethiopia Bunna
Kenean Markneh – Addis Ababa University
Efrem Kassa – Eth. Nigd Bank
Suraphel Dagnachew – Adama Ketema
Ujulu Oklo – Gambella Ketema
Dawit Teferra – Jimma Aba Bunna
Kindalem Fikadu – Muger Cement
Besufikad Negash – Mekele Ketema
STRIKERS
Yared Birhanu – Dedebit
Ome Mohammed – Jimma Aba Bunna
Surafel Awel – Jimma Aba Bunna
