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JOHANNESBURG. — Ethiopia will look to bounce back from an opening defeat in their 2022 World Cup Qualifying Group G campaign when they host Zimbabwe at the Bahir Dar Stadium tomorrow night.
Kick-off is at 6pm.
Ethiopia got their World Cup group stage off to a losing start as they succumbed 1-0 away to Ghana in Cape Coast last Friday night, though the East Africans put in a fighting display and could have salvaged something from the game had they been just a touch more clinical in attack.
The Walia Ibex will hope that playing on home soil brings a better result, with coach Wubetu Abate calling for aggression and pride from his charges.
“We must show our opponents that we are here to defend the honour of our jersey. Playing at home will inspire more fight and determination,” said Abate.
Zimbabwe opened Group G with a frustrating home draw against neighbours South Africa in Harare on Friday afternoon.
The Warriors were generally the more proactive and dominant team in the match, though they struggled to create clear scoring chances and needed a couple of key interventions at the back to prevent Bafana Bafana from claiming a “smash and grab’’ win.
Zimbabwe coach Zdravko Logarusic saw match fitness as an issue and will be hoping his team is sharper and shows more endurance in Bahir Dar.
“It was a difficult game, and I will give you a few thoughts. You could see at the end of the game that we had a problem with match fitness, because only four of our players are playing regularly at their clubs,” said Loga.
“It was a difficult game, we needed a bit of individual brilliance, we didn’t get. At the end I think a draw was a fair result and we have to look in some other games to try and catch up for those two points.”
In head-to-head stats, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe have met in three matches across all competitions and friendlies since their first recorded clash back in 1984.
The Walia Ibex have claimed two wins compared to one for the Warriors.
The teams’ most recent meeting was way back in November 1988: a CECAFA Cup game which Zimbabwe won 2-1 in Blantyre, Malawi.
Meanwhile, South Africa will target a home win in their second 2022 World Cup Group G match when they face Ghana at the FNB Stadium in Soweto tonight.
Kick-off is at 6pm.
The West African side lead the way in the group standings after a win over Ethiopia in Cape Coast last Friday evening, with midfielder Mubarak Wakaso scoring the only goal of the game.
The Black Stars, who are looking to return to the global showpiece after missing the last World Cup in Russia, will be aiming to improve on their attacking play, according to coach C.K. Akonnor.
“If you watch our game we create a lot of chances.
“This same chances (we converted) against Qatar to score five goals”, Akonnor explained.
“So it’s not a situation whereby we cannot score goals but now it seems so but I strongly believe we will score goals. We are doing well and creating chances. With time it will come.”
South Africa got their group stage off to a solid if unspectacular start by holding neighbours Zimbabwe 0-0 in Harare on Friday afternoon.
Bafana Bafana generally played on the back foot, but put in a sound defensive display and created the better scoring opportunities. Yet they will need to go up a gear or two given the higher quality of players Ghana have at their disposal.
“I’m happy about the mentality,” coach Hugo Broos explained.
“I think the players showed a good mentality while defensively I think it was alright. We didn’t give too many chances to Zimbabwe and the defence was there so I’m happy about that also.”
The Belgian added, “You have to score to win games. (Against Zimbabwe) it was not so good offensively and I think we have to work on that.”
In head-to-head stats, South Africa and Ghana have met in 14 matches across all competitions and friendlies since their first recorded clash back in 1994.
The Black Stars and Bafana Bafana have claimed four wins apiece, with six games ending in draws.
The teams last met in a friendly in March of this year, at the FNB Stadium, which ended 1-1 after goals from Emmanuel Gyasi and Percy Tau. — AFP.
Online Reporter