Ethiopia’s Walia Ibex strive to get their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track against Zimbabwe in Bahir Dar on Tuesday evening.
The Group G clash will be staged at Bahir Dar Stadium, kick-off at 16h00 GMT.
The Walia Ibex find themselves placed at the bottom on the group standings with no point, having lost their opening qualifier away to second placed Ghana last weekend.
With South Africa taking three points from Ghana in their second match of the qualifiers, Ethiopia will hope to capitalize on home ground advantage over Zimbabwe.
Wubetu Abate, the Ethiopia coach, is expected to ring the changes especially on the attack line, for the Walia Ibex to have their campaign back on the track.
“We must show our opponents that we are here to defend the honour of our jersey. Playing at home will inspire more fight and determination,” said Abate in a statement that hinted changes.
Zimbabwe were held goalless at home by South Africa in Harare in the Group opener and the two dropped points at home was a big blow to the Wariors in their quest to reach a first World Cup tournament.
Tino Kadewere, who is one of Zimbabwe key players, will miss the match after suffering a groin injury during his team clash against South Africa.
Warriors coach Zdravko “Loga’’ Logarusic seemed to also fail to come up with Plan B once his star men failed to come to the party.He was just left frustrated by individual and collective performances.
“We have to improve from our first game, to have better transition when we receive the ball to make it move a bit quicker between the lines and try to finish our attacks quicker,” Logarušic said yesterday.
“We have to be quicker in our counter attacks, but at the same time have a bit of patience by moving the ball around. The ball should do the running for us. Those are some of the things which we should improve on including creating some extra numbers in attack especially from our wingers. We didn’t have lots of support the last time.”
This will be the forth official meeting of Ethiopia and Zimbabwe according to FIFA’s statistics.The Walia Ibex have claimed two wins compared to one for the Warriors.
