Ethiopian Soccer: Ashenafi names 29-man roster ahead of Uganda friendly
Newly appointed Ethiopian national team coach Ashenafi Bekele names a 29-man provisional squad ahead of the Uganda friendly tie and African Cup of Nations qualifier opener against Ghana in June.
The ex Adama Ketema coach assumed the helm at the senior national team back in March and has been scouting players to be included in the provisional squad. The squad is predominantly comprised of home based players as only Egypt based duo Shemeles Bekele and Oumed Okuri summoned to the team. Oumed, who pile his trade for El Entag El Harby, netted 9 goals in all competition this season.
Fasil Ketema’s Abdurahman Mubarak, Jimma Aba Bunna’s Ame Mohammed and Electric’s right back Awet GebreMikael were handed their first call up to the national team. Getaneh Kebede, Gatoch Panom, Jemal Tassew, Salahdin Said and Abel Mamo are some of the notable faces in the squad.
Dire Dawa Ketema’s shot stopper Samson Assefa failed to make the cut. Samson has been one of a top performer in the current league season; nonetheless he failed to get a place in the squad. Other notable absentees are Firew Solomon and Yared Bayeh.
The Walia Antelopes will host Uganda on June 3 on an international friendly game in Addis Ababa before heading to Accra to play the African Cup of Nations qualifier group favorites against Ghana.
Full squad
Goalkeepers
Abel Mamo (Mekelakeya), Jemal Tassew (Jimma Aba Bunna), Lealem Birhanu (Sidama Bunna), Teklemariam Shanko (Addis Ababa Ketema)
Defenders
Asechalew Tamene (Kidus Giorgis), Abdulkerim Mohammed, Ahmed Reshid (Ethiopia Bunna), Seyoum Tesfaye (Dedebit), Tesfaye Bekele, Mujib Kassim (Adama Ketema), Aneteneh Tesfaye (Sidama Bunna), Awot Gebremikael (Ethio-Electric), Addis Tesfaye (Mekelakeya)
Midfielders
Natnael Zeleke, Menetesnot Adane (Kidus Giorgis), Biruk Kalbore (Adama Ketema), Ephrem Ashamo,Shemekit Gugesa (Dedebit), Gatoch Panom (Ethiopia Bunna), Tadele Mengesha (ArbaMinch Ketema),Mulualem Mesfin (Sidama Bunna), Gadissa Mebrate (Hawassa Ketema), Shemeles Bekele (Petrojet/Egypt)
Forwards
Getaneh Kebede (Dedebit), Salahdin Said (Kidus Giorgis), Addis Gidey (Sidama Bunna), Ame Mohammed(Jimma Aba Bunna), Abdulrahman Mubarak (Fasil Ketema), Oumed Okuri (El-Entag El-Harby/Egypt)
Source: SoccerEthiopia.net
