2014 CHAN: Uganda, Ethiopia qualify for finals

There was redemption of sorts for Ethiopia’s Minyahil Teshome Beyene as his spot kick sealed Ethiopia‘s place at the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in South Africa.

Beyene was the man at the centre of the mistake that saw Ethiopia lose three vital 2014 World Cup qualifying points but was the hero as Ethiopia beat Rwanda on penalties on Saturday.

Rwanda won the second leg of the qualifier in Kigali 1-0 to make it 1-1 on aggregate.

Ethiopia’s goalkeeper Sisay Bancha saved a post-match spot kick before Beyene stepped up and sent his team to next year’s finals in South Africa.

Beyene played in the Walya Antelope’s 2-1 win over Botswana in a World Cup qualifier on 8 June when he should have been suspended, having picked up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers.

Fifa overturned the win for Ethiopia and handed Botswana a 3-0 victory instead.

Uganda also qualified for the finals with a 3-1 win in Kampala over overTanzania on Saturday.

It completed a 4-1 aggregate victory for coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s side in the tournament for locally-based players.

Frank Kalanda gave the hosts the lead after just six minutes before Amri Kiemba equalized 10 minutes later from a well taken Mrisho Ngasa cross.

Brian Majwega made it 2-1 for the Cranes just after half-time from the penalty spot, after defender David Luhende handled in the box.

Kalanda completed the victory on 62 minutes with his second of the match.

“We have worked so hard to make it to the 2014 CHAN event and I want to thank the team for a job well done,” Micho said after the match.

“This will open doors for professional football for many of these players when they play in the competition next year.”

Tanzania’s coach Kim Poulsen said his boys played well in the first half, but struggled after the break.

Uganda also qualified for the last edition of CHAN in Sudan in 2011.

The Ethiopian national soccer team “The Walias” advanced to the finals of the Orange African Nations Championship after defeating Rwanda 6-5 on penalty kicks.

The Walias, who won the first leg match 1-0, and Rwanda did likewise today during regulation time. So the faith of the two teams were left to be decided on penalty kicks.

The two teams were tied 4-4 after the first set of penalty kicks. So, a second round of penalty kicks were need. Ethiopia’s goalie Sisay Bancha saved one and Minhyahil Teshome Beyene, redeemed himself by scoring the decisive and crucial goal.

Asrat Megersa scored Ethiopia’s goal during the first leg match.

EthioSports would like to congratulate the Ethiopian national team players and coaching staff for a great result!

In other qualifiers this weekend Mali are well placed having beatenGuinea 3-1 at home, as are Sudan after forcing a 1-1 draw in Burundi.

But Burkina Faso and 2009 champions Democratic Republic of Congo face tough tasks against Niger and Congo-Brazzavillerespectively having built just one-goal home leads.

There are also four first-leg fixtures with Cameroon belatedly hostingGabon after the lifting this week of a Fifa ban on the country for state interference.

Southern region fixtures between Botswana and Zambia, Mozambiqueand Namibia and Mauritius and Zimbabwe complete the 11-match schedule.

Source: BBC