The Ethiopian women national side tested a bitter defeat at the hand of the Algerian women national team in African Women Cup of Nations qualifier first leg played out in Algiers. Algeria came from behind to beat Ethiopia 3-1.
Lucy started the duel in bright note but eventually ended the tie being in the wrong foot of the score line. July 5th Stadium hosted the game between the two nations as team captain Rehima Zerega struck the opener for Ethiopia in the 15th minute. A long delivery from Hiwot Dengiso founded the unmarked Rehima who heads home to give Ethiopia the lead.
The lead was short lived when the homers got the equalizer through Madina Ramdani. In the 32nd minute Canadian born Assia Sidhoum found the back of the net with an easy tap in. Assia dispossessed the Ethiopian midfielders and sent Naima Bouhani free who rounded goalie Nigest Meaza and square the ball back to Assia to slot home.
After the resumption the poor form of Lucy persisted while the Algerians took full control of the tie thanks to Bouhani and Myriam Benlazar. Ethiopia failed to get a decent scoring chance for much of the interval while Bouhani and Benlazar tested Nigest in multiple occasions. Fatima Sekouane struck the third for Algeria three minutes after the hour mark.
Ethiopia should overcome Algeria in Addis Ababa on the coming Sunday in order to progress to the AWCON which is due in Ghana in November. Lucy failed to proceed to the biennial continental tournament following the 2012 edition.
