We are very ready for this match – Ethiopian Teshome

ADDIS ABABA, October 7, 2013 (AFP) –
In matching blue jerseys and red
shorts, Ethiopia's footballers confidently
criss-cross their home pitch, launching
the ball back and forth.
The players press on under the
blistering morning sun for over two
hours. At this crucial stage in the 2014
World Cup Africa zone qualifiers, the
team knows that every minute of
training counts.
"We have tried to prepare them
physically as well as mentally in the
first week and now we are doing our
tactical work and we will continue in the
coming few days to combine the two,"
said Ethiopian 'Waliya Antelopes' coach
Sewnet Bishaw, as his team waged a
practice match behind him.
Ethiopia are preparing to face Nigeria
on Sunday in their toughest qualifying
match yet.
Though the odds are stacked against
Ethiopia — Nigeria rank 36th in the
world, according to international
football governing body FIFA, while
Ethiopia clocks in at 93 – the 'Waliyas'
maintain an unflinching resolve to win.
Having beaten 2010 World Cup hosts
South Africa to land at the top of their
group, it is the closest the Horn of Africa
nation has come to reaching the finals.
Ethiopia know the next match will be
far from easy. On top of their
impressive global ranking, Nigeria have
more international experience and
boasts several players from top
European leagues.
But the 'Waliyas' refuse to let that
spook them.
Having played Nigeria last January at
the Africa Cup of Nations, Ethiopia are
familiar with the strength of Nigeria's
'Super Eagles', who won the game 2-0
before moving on to win the lift the
trophy in South Africa.
"We are ready for this match, we are
very ready. We learned a lesson from
the mistakes we made last time," said
midfielder Menyahil Teshome.
Coach Sewnet said despite Ethiopia's
defeat, the Nigerian squad is not a
better team and the 'Waliyas'
maintained their strength until the last
10 minutes of the game.
"If you look seriously at that match,
Nigeria were not a better team than us.
Up to the (end) we were performing
good. But in the last 10 minutes they
used their experience, so they got two
penalties," he said.
"I think we will have a better game in
the coming match against Nigeria,"
Sewnet said.
But he admits training has been set
back by the absence of the team's four
professional players, including star
striker Saladin Said, who are expected
early this week.
Ethiopia — a country better known for
their renowned runners than their
footballers — have amazed supporters
by making it this far in the qualifiers.
Menyahil said his team, regarded as
underdogs among powerful African
national football teams like Ghana and
Ivory Coast, is 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.
Though preventing Nigeria from scoring
away goals is crucial if Ethiopia want to
proceed, coach Sewnet said the team is
focused on both defending and
attacking, and is not prioritising one
over the other.
And while he insists he is focusing on
winning each match individually,
instead of pressuring his team to reach
Brazil, he does not scoff at the idea of
making it to the World Cup.
"Why not? I don't know Brazil, so I want
to see it," he joked.
The return match is scheduled for
Calabar in south-east Nigeria on
November 16 and the aggregate
winners qualify for the World Cup.