Can the Antelopes outpace the Eagles?
On paper, the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia do not stand a chance tonight at the Abuja National Stadium against the Super Eagles.
According to the latest FIFA rankings, the Ethiopians are ranked a lowly 124th in the world while the Super Eagles occupy the 39th spot.
If that is the sole criteria for deciding who will end up with the three points at the end of tonight’s game in Abuja, then fans of the Super Eagles can rejoice and look forward to a one-sided encounter against the Ethiopians. The Walya Antelopes will be expected to just sit back, mass up their rank in defence, and await the flurry of attacks from Samson Siasia’s side.
But they will also be waiting for the perfect moment to spring a surprise and catch the Super Eagles unawares with quick counter attacks.
And one man who the Super Eagles have to be wary of in the Ethiopian side is Fikru-Tefera Lemessa.
He won’t be too difficult to spot as he will most likely be the sole man upfront doing his best to keep the Super Eagles defenders on their toes.
Standing six feet tall and currently on the payroll of South African club side, Supersport United, Lemessa is the only foreign-based player in the Walya Antelopes team and if the words of South African-based Nigerian goalkeeper, Greg Etafia are anything to go by, the Super Eagles will need to keep an eye on the 25-year-old throughout the game.
“I have played several times against him. He is a striker who chases lost causes, so we have to be wary of such a player,” Etafia told a football website. “For him, any match is war. He loves mixing it up with his markers and he is forever busy.”
He added: “He’s big, strong, hustles and loves to intimidate defenders. He is also comfortable on the ball, shoots with both feet and has a good turn.”
Lemessa, however, isn’t the only threat in the Ethiopian side as they also have the duo of Oumed Oukri and Shimeles Bekele who will be attacking from the flanks.
The Walyas will be placing their hopes on these players to make of making a first Cup of Nations appearance since 1982 in Libya, where coincidentally, they were on the receiving end of a 3-0 bashing by Nigeria.
Nigeria also beat them 6-0 in 1993 on the way to qualifying for the 1994 Cup of Nations in Tunisia which the Super Eagles won.
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