Ethiopia will not be at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after losing 1-0 away to South Africa in their fourth match of Group G at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
Though a better performance from the 3-1 drubbing suffered in Bahir Dar on Saturday, it was never enough to avoid defeat former Bidvest Wits and AmaTuks man Getaneh Kebede scored an own-goal.
Ethiopia started the better of the two sides and came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute when Seremat Hamid met a right wing cross with his thigh, but he saw his six-yard effort brilliantly saved by the South Africa keeper.
Bafana took the lead on the 11th minute from a Maart delivered an in-swinging corner that was deflected into the back of the net by Kebede as he tried to clear a goal-bound header from Letsoalo
Fasil Gebremichel was in action again for Ethiopia in the 20th minute, this time flinging himself to his left to tip a NjabuloNgcobo header away from danger.
Ethiopia’s first real opening arrived after 36th minutes when Chernet Beshah was sent through on goal, but the Saint Georges winger was unable to score with only Ronwen Williams to beat.
The Walia Ibex continued to try and find their way back into the game and came close in the dying seconds of the half when Aschalew Tamene broke into the box, but saw his 16-yard shot skim the wrong side of the crossbar.
The second half was a close-knit affair as both teams kept it tight at the back which resulted in chance son goal being few and far between.
The first real chance of the second half came on the hour mark when Mobbie unleashed a powerful shot from just inside the box, but saw his effort well-saved by the keeper.
As the game wore on Ethiopia pushed numbers forward and came close to an equaliser in the 78th minute when Shemeles Bekele miscued a shot from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
In the end the South Africa defence held firm and picked up their third win in the qualifiers and cement their lead on Group G with 10 points.
