A two leg showdown defeat against Guinea, Wubetu Abate’s dream of leading Ethiopia into the 2024 African nations cup final shattered into pieces. Three defeats from four outings Ethiopia is thrown down from top to bottom of the table with just three points while Egypt tied for the top spot of group (D) with Guinea but took over the driving seat in goal differences.
Though many football fans were overtaken by the “once in a blue moon” dramatic 2-0 victory over Egypt three months earlier, the naked truth of Ethiopian football is once again resurfaced in the clear not only in losing the two leg fixture against Guinea but the poor performance exhibited.
The first leg 2-0 score sheet doesn’t tell everything for the 26 goal attempt by Guinea compared with none for Ethiopia hardly mentioned. A fiasco performance with a pores defense line and tooth less up-front, the number of goals could have risen higher had it not been for the bravery of debutant goal keeper Said Habtamu.
The 3-2 defeat at the second leg in Rabat is considered a huge boost for Wubetu for his squad showed some fighting spirit for their pride. But still a sloppy defense and poor work rate from the midfield, Guinea managed to go away with a 3-2 victory thus shouldering the group top spot with Egypt having nine points.
Likely to host the group fifth round against Malawi far from home on 16th of June then the group final match against group leader Egypt in Cairo on 8th of September, the qualification campaign for Ethiopia is as good as finished.
Webetu Abate told reporters after the game that anyone even better than him took over the national hot seat, nothing better would come for Ethiopian football is in a death bed looking for serious commitment from all parties concerned.
