Ethiopia’s national football team, Wali Ibex, will look to bounce back from their heavy 3-1 loss toSouth Africa in Bahir Dar on Wednesday when the two teams square off in the return leg at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
The dejected Ethiopia contingent made a quite exit on Sunday afternoon with the technical bench too timid to field questions from local journalists.
In Saturday’s encounter, Teboho Mokoena scored the opener for Bafana before Getaneh Kebede scored an equalizer, but goals from Mothobi Mvala and Evidence Makgopa ensured South Africa scooped three points.
Following the outcome, South Africa have cemented their position at the top of Group G with seven points, ahead of Ghana who have six after pipping Zimbabwe 3-1 in Accra on Saturday. Ethiopia are on three points while Zimbabwe are at the bottom on the table with one point.
Walia Ibex gaffer Wubetu Abate is expected to tinker with the lineup for better results after his decision to play key players out of their usual positions proved disastrous.
The Ethiopian lads looked entirely at sea as they struggled to master their new and unfamiliar roles. Simply, the squad failed miserably in their efforts to string together meaningful passes.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos complained of the poor pitch condition in Bahir Dar saying that stopped his team from playing the football they had planned for.
“It was a very difficult game on a very tough pitch. I said before the game to the players that we don’t need a trophy of best football playing, but we need a title of the team with the most character,” said Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos in the aftermath.
“We showed that character, we fought for every ball and we won, and it is a great win.”
In head-to-head stats, the two nations have now locked horns on three previous occasions with victory over the weekend Bafana Bafana’s first in this rivalry.
South Africa are bidding to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002, having participated at the 2010 edition as hosts.
Ethiopia’s mathematical chances of progressing through now remain slim after the loss and they must now unleash all their arsenal to gather maximum points in their three remaining encounters.
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