Ethiopia qualify for Total Africa Cup of Nations

Ethiopia’s national Football team, Walia Ibex have qualified for the 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Despite losing 3-1 on Tuesday night away to Ivory Coast in a Group K encounter of the qualifiers, Ethiopia’s Walia Ibex finished second in the Group with 9 points to qualify for the AFCON.

In the 3-1 victory at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Tuesday, the Elephants scored through Willy Boly, Franck Kessie (penalty) and Jean Kouassi. Skipper Getaneh Kabede scored for Ethiopia.

“For the unity of our national it is a meaningful qualification,” said Esayas Jira, President of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF).

On Tuesday Madagascar beaten 4-0 last week by Ethiopia failed to beat bottom placed Niger when the two sides settled for a goalless draw. Madagascar finished with 8 points, while Niger collected 4 points.

Ethiopia return to the big stage of the AFCON after eight years of waiting. They join Sudan who are the only other nation to qualify from the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) zone.

In the other matches of the AFCON qualifiers played by CECAFA members on Tuesday Burundi lost 1-0 away to Morocco in a Group E match, while Rwanda settled for a goalless draw away to Cameroon in a Group F qualifier. On Monday Uganda lost 1-0 away to Malawi in a Group B encounter, while Kenya completed the qualifiers in style picking a 2-1victory away to Togo in a Group G match.

Group K

                            P     W    D     L      GF    GA    GD     Pts

Ivory Coast       6      4      1      1      11       5        6       13

Ethiopia            6      3      0      3      10       6       4        9

Madagascar      6      2      2      2        9       9       0        8

Niger                  6      1      1       4        3       13    -10       4