Sewenet confident about team

By Tewodros Kebkab

The draw for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations group stage was unveiled in Durban with the sixteen teams  learning their placement.

Sewenet Bishaw, Ethiopian national team coach told to The Reporter after the draw that the group is not simple.

“But we are not scared because we have played with big teams to qualify for the the African Cup of Nations. We are also in a good position in our world cup qualifying group,” Sewenet said.

“Every team is tough because the teams qualified by beating strong teams if we work hard and prepare by having friendly matches until the games start I believe that we will be capable to play in any group,” Sewenet added.

The coming month the Ethiopian team will also play in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), however, according to Sewenet the team will not be playing in this tournament since they will be engaged in friendly matches.

Sewenet also has plans to recruit new skillful players both from here and abroad. “Ethiopians and Ethiopian born players can have a place in the national team. Playing for the team is not a birthright so we are planning to replace current players if we get better players,” Sewenet told The Reporter.

Sewenet disclosed that the team will start preparations at the end of next month. “If we work hard we will qualify for the quarterfinals and no one knows what will happen. Our team has a good spirit and the players are wishing if they could play with Cote d’ Ivoire,” he added.

The Ethiopian national team qualified for the 2013 African cup of nations after 31 years by beating Sudan on away goals.

Group A: South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Angola.

Group B: Ghana, DR Congo, Niger, Mali.

Group C: Zambia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nigeria.

Group D: Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia, Togo

Source: The Reporter