Last Season’s Ethiopian premier league Champions Jimma Aba Jifar, who were representing Ethiopia in the CAF Confederations Cup after their first round Champions League exit, were knocked out from the competition by Morocco side Hassania Agadir after losing 5-0 on aggregate.
The Western Ethiopia side lost the first leg in Addis Abeba last sunday 1-0 after conceeding through Zoher Chawche’s wonder strike. Despite the loss, Jimma stated that they were confident that they would turn things around in the return leg, but they suffered a 4-0 demolition in Morocco.
Both teams made two changes each from the starting 11 they used in the first leg, with Yehun Endeshaw and Bismarck Appiah coming in place of Elias Mamo and Aschalew Girma for Jimma Aba Jiffar.
The game witnessed a fairly balanced first 20 minutes, with both teams enjoying a fair share of the possession and attempting to create goal scoring opportunities.
In the 18th minute, Yassin Rami’s free header from Badir Cachani cross gave the home side the lead. HUSA were close to extending their lead minutes later from a free kick.
After conceeding the opening goal, Jimma tried to control the ball, but their passing play was lacking purpose and progression to the opponents half; mostly being able to hold the ball only restricted to there own half. The first interval saw no attempts on goal from Aba Jifar. On the contrary, the home side were playing with a well structured, difficult to penetrate defense, and looked very dangerous on the counter attack.
After the restart, the matched resumed with less tempo than the first half. Sofani Bofteni headed goal from corner kick in the 53rd minute, and Miroslave Markovic strike moments later took Hassania’s lead to three, and the tie out of Jimma Aba Jiffar’s hands.
After being 3-0 down, Jimma resorted to an all out attack play, frequently visiting Hassania’s box, with Didier Lebri and Bismarck Appiah failing to convert good scoring chances.
After the 70th minute mark, Jimma’s players were visibly exhausted, allowing Hassania Agadir to take full control of the game once again.
Hasaniya were very close to adding a fourth in the 73rd minute when Ahmed Werydat’s effort went just wide. The Moroccans finally got their fourth goal later on; Abdulelali Kanbobi coming 1 v 1 against Jimma keeper Daniel Ageyi scored with a very composed finish to put the final nail in Jimma’s Continental football coffin.
After Jimma Aba Jiffar’s exit from the CAF Confederations Cup, Ethiopia currently remains with no representatives in the group stages of Continental club football. The draw for the Total CAF Confederations Cup group stages will take place on Monday in Cairo.
