Ethiopia to face Sudan in football friendly on Sunday

Addis Ababa – Newly appointed Ethiopian national football team coach, Tom Saintfiet of Belgium, will test the strength of his team when the Ethiopia’s national team faces Sudan in a friendly match here, ahead of the Nigeria encounter for the crucial Orange 2012 African Nations Cup Group B qualifier game.

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) signed a three-month contract with the former Namibia head coach as he replaces Britain’s of Nigerian origin, Iffy Onuora who was sacked ten months into his two-year contract.

The Walia Antelopes as the Ethiopian national team is called faces Nigeria here in the capital on June 5 for the crucial Orange 2012 African Nations Cup Group B qualifier game.

Meanwhile, Coach Saintfiet, who got a first glimpse of Ethiopian football when he  attended the St. George vs Ethiopian Coffee derby match here on Sunday, said that he was impressed by the players’ technical abilities, according to EthioFootball.com

The 22 players called up :

Goalkeepers:

Zerihun Tadesse (St. George), Yidnekatchew Kidane (Defence Force) and Jemal Tassew (Dedebit FC).

Defenders: Alula Girma (St. George), Abebaw Butako (St. George), Sisay Demissie (Ethiopian Coffee), Berhanu Bogale (Dedebit FC), Mengistu Assefa (Dedebit FC), Aynalem Hailu (Defence Force), Zenebe Kebede (Hawassa City) and Biadgelegn Elias (Sidama Coffee).

Midfielders: Yared Zenabu (St. George), Menyahel Teshome (Ethiopian Coffee), Shimeles Bekele (Hawassa City), Asrat Megerssa (EEPCO), Tesfaye Alebachew (Sebeta City) and Mesfin Ahmed (CBE).

Strikers: Adane Girma (St. George), Oumed Oukri (Defence Force), Chala Driba (Defence Force), Biniam Assefa (Sebeta City) and Gebre-Michael Yacob (Sidama Coffee)