Walias to Face Malawi for African Cup of Nations Qualifier

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia– The Ethiopia Walia Ibex football team has left for Malawi today to face its counterpart in Group B of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier.

Although the two teams are scheduled to face each other on Wednesday in Lilongwe, the Malawian Football Federation has asked CAF to move the match to Thursday because their players need an extra day to rest. Malawi played their opening group game against Mali yesterday instead of Saturday like Algeria and Ethiopia did, because of heavy rain in Bamako.

The Walia Ibex left Addis Ababa with the following 20 players:

Goalkeepers (2): Sisay Bancha (Dedebit) and Jemal Tassew (Ethiopian Coffee)

Defenders (6): Alula Girma (St. George), Abebaw Butako (St. George), Saladin Bergecho (St. George), Tok James (Ethiopian Coffee), Berhanu Bogale (Dedebit FC) and Aklilu Ayenew (Dedebit).

Midfielders (9): Mentesebot Adane (St. George), Adane Girma (St. George), Menyahel Teshome (St. George), Natnael Zeleke (St. George), Shimeles Bekele (Petrojet, Egypt), Tadele Mengesha (Dedebit), Efrem Ashamo (Commercial Bank of Ethiopia) Addis Hintsa ( Al Ahly Shendi, Sudan) and Yusuf Saleh (Sweden),

Forwards (3): Saladin Said (Al Ahly, Egypt), Oumed Ukri (Al Itihad, Egypt) and Getaneh Kebede (Bidvest Wits, South Africa).