Ethiopia and Congo will battle it out on Saturday, 14 November 2015 in the first leg of the Second Round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia reached this round at the expense of São Tomé and Príncipe whilst Congo drew a bye at the First Round.
Ahead of the meeting, Ethiopia coach Yohannes Sahle has declared his charges will do everything within their reach to notch a victory at home.
Ethiopia reached this round at the expense of São Tomé and Príncipe whilst Congo drew a bye at the First Round.
Ahead of the meeting, Ethiopia coach Yohannes Sahle has declared his charges will do everything within their reach to notch a victory at home.
“It has been nine days in total since we started preparation. We saw what we really wanted from the new players and also those players who ply their trade abroad. The schedule is a bit tight, albeit my players adapted playing rigorous games within three days. We should play to win. We were working on an offensive style of play to ensure we win,” said Sahle.
“We have assessed their (Congo) previous games. We watched their games against Kenya and Ghana, but we cannot 100 per cent rely on those assessment. Nevertheless, my players are aware of Congo’s style of play,” he added.
Ethiopia has summoned Turkey based defender Walid Atta and striker Getaneh Kebede. Both missed the first qualifying round games.
Striker Salahdin Said of Algerian side MC Alger will miss the game due to injury.
Veteran coach of Congo, Claude Le Roy, on his part has bemoaned the absence of some key players due to injury.
“Our preparation has largely been affected by injuries to our key players. Our captain Prince Oniangué, striker Férébory Doré and some other crucial players are not with us through injury. It is unfortunate that we missed out those players but this is the nature of football,” said Le Roy.
The Frenchman has however affirmed that Spain-based forward Thievy Bifouma is fit and would likely to spearhead ‘Les Diables Rouges’ front line.
“Bifouma is fit so we might see him in the game. I have followed the Ethiopian national team since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nation. I saw some of their recent games and I know they are a good side. But we came here to win and we will do that,” added Le Roy.
“We have assessed their (Congo) previous games. We watched their games against Kenya and Ghana, but we cannot 100 per cent rely on those assessment. Nevertheless, my players are aware of Congo’s style of play,” he added.
Ethiopia has summoned Turkey based defender Walid Atta and striker Getaneh Kebede. Both missed the first qualifying round games.
Striker Salahdin Said of Algerian side MC Alger will miss the game due to injury.
Veteran coach of Congo, Claude Le Roy, on his part has bemoaned the absence of some key players due to injury.
“Our preparation has largely been affected by injuries to our key players. Our captain Prince Oniangué, striker Férébory Doré and some other crucial players are not with us through injury. It is unfortunate that we missed out those players but this is the nature of football,” said Le Roy.
The Frenchman has however affirmed that Spain-based forward Thievy Bifouma is fit and would likely to spearhead ‘Les Diables Rouges’ front line.
“Bifouma is fit so we might see him in the game. I have followed the Ethiopian national team since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nation. I saw some of their recent games and I know they are a good side. But we came here to win and we will do that,” added Le Roy.
By: Cafonline.com
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