Minnows Ethiopia and Burkina Faso
lock horns in a must win
encounter for both teams on
Friday as far as qualification to
the quarter-finals of 2013 Africa
Cup of Nations is concerned. Following a clean bill of health by
the medical team, both coaches
are expected to retain squads
that did duty in the first game,
save for a forced change by the
Walya Antelopes with Sefnet Bishaw expected to call upon the
services of reserve custodian
Zerihun Tadele in the absence of
suspended Jemal Tessaw, following
his red card. Bishaw will be hoping his charges
pick up from where they left off
against Zambia's Chipolopolo in the
opening game. The east Africans earned several
plaudits for a display that
secured them a credible draw
against the defending champions,
despite playing for more than an
hour with ten men. On the other hand, Burkina Faso's
Stallions will feel prepared for this
duel, and take comfort in the
encouraging display in the 1-1
stalemate against Nigeria's Super
Eagles in their first game. Both coaches seem satisfied with
the results earned thus far and
have promised to prepare their
players to build on from that
form. "Playing Zambia in the opening
game was a very difficult task.
Our players now need to gather
confidence and get into their
stride immediately because our
next achievement is to prevail against Burkina Faso," said
Ethiopia coach Bishaw at a press
conference. "Ethiopia will not be easy. They
are very confident and I believe
they have produced the surprise
result of the tournament so far.
With accurate finishing, they
would have beaten Zambia. We will be ready for them," declared Paul
Put to reporters. Alain Traore, who struck at the
death to deny Nigeria maximum
points, will be the key man once
again for the Stallions alongside
midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa, who
caused a great deal of trouble during the match. Pitroipa will likely be supporting
captain Moumouni Dagano and
Traore, and the pair have more
than enough natural ability to
test Zerihun Tadele and the
defenders charged with protecting Ethiopia's goal. Ethiopia's hopes will once again
be pegged on Adane Girma, who
secured the vital draw against
Zambia in the opening contest.