World Cup Playoffs: Will Moses Be Ethiopia’s Nemesis Again?

One thing Coach of Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia, Bishaw Sewnet, would crave for going into Sunday’s Brazil 2014 World Cup playoffs slated for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is that Super Eagles’ midfielder Victor Moses should be sidelined.

Reason for Sewnet’s ‘wishful thinking’ steams from the fact that it was the Liverpool FC of England midfielder who singlehandedly dashed Ethiopia’s dream of progressing from the group stage of the South Africa 2013 African Cup of Nations, AFCON early this year.

The former Crystal Palace of England scored two penalties in Nigeria’s final group stage game against Ethiopia, which the Super Eagles needed to win to go through.  A second red card was giving to the Ethiopian goalkeeper, Sisay Bancha leading to the penalty and was sent off. Ethiopia had already used all three substitutes so their holding midfielder went in goal, and missed Moses’ penalty. The game ended 2-0.

Though preventing Nigeria from scoring away goals in Sunday’s match is crucial if Ethiopia want to proceed. Sewnet said the team are  focused on both defending and attacking, and is not prioritising one over the other.

It is worthy to note that the Super Eagles are the reigning African champions.

On paper, the Eagles would be going into the first leg as clear favourites but the East Africans would want to prove a point by stopping Nigeria from having a smooth ride over the Antelopes.

Call it a battle of animals and you will not be wrong but Sewnet and his wards would not pray for a recurrence of the Nations Cup  episode, where it was the same Moses that stung the Antelopes.

Apparently the odds are against Ethiopia, Nigeria ranked 36th in the world, according to FIFA, while Ethiopia are 93rd, but some of the players that would be in action said they are not disturbed by the ranking.

The Eagles have got players plying their trades all over Europe, but Sewnet said he would charge his wards to go all out for outright victory come Sunday.

The East Africans are already talking tough ahead of the tie as the message emanating from their camp is that they have learnt from the mistakes they made at the Nations Cup.

Throwing the first missile at the nest of the Eagles is one of their players Menyahil Teshome.

According to him, “we are ready for this match, we are very ready. We learned a lesson from the mistakes we made last time.”

Menyahil further stated that they may not rank among powerful African national football teams such as Ghana and Ivory Coast but, “we are bolstered by a strong sense of nationalism and a refusal to be intimidated.”

“Our strength is our team spirit,” he said, sweating after training at Addis Ababa’s national stadium, which is lined with posters of the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

“We have nothing to fear. Until now, we’ve been supported by our people,” added Menyahil, who was fielded illegally in a match against Botswana, costing the team three points.”

While the clash would decided on the field of play the governments of both countries are already motivating their respective teams to ensure that they pick the sole ticket.

The Ethiopian government has offered incentive to motivate the team ahead of the do or die encounter. However some players have expressed their displeasure with most saying they feel unappreciated.

“We deserve better as players as we have worked extremely hard but whatever we were given by the government was inadequate and we feel unappreciated yet we have put our country in the World map.”

Like the Ethiopian government, the Federal Government of Nigeria has promised to reward the Eagles if they can qualify for the Mundial.

Making this disclosure was the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC Gbenga Elegbeye.

Elebeleye informed that “a Presidential package” has been planned for the Eagles on qualification.

“We have a special package for the Eagles once they qualify for the World Cup. It’s a Presidential package. And we are already preparing for the package because we know the Eagles will qualify,” stated Elegbeleye.

—Adebobola Alawode