Every underdog has its day
The last group of the ANC qualifiers looks at the four matches on Sunday that may be unfairly overlooked. These countries do not always attract attention simply because they are not very well known but the contests themselves could produce some exciting results and an introduction to some of the teams we will get to see more of in South Africa next year.
Sudan v EthiopiaÂÂ
If the first leg of this tie is anything to go by, the next match should be an absolute cracker. Sudan beat Ethiopia 5-3 at home and the away goals advantage sets the match up deliciously.
Ethiopia will have to score two goals without reply if they hope to progress for the first time in 30 years. They allowed Sudan to put three past them in the first half of the match and gave away two penalties when they met in September and coach Sewnet Bishaw said those mistakes will not be repeated.
“Our players scored wonderful goals and we went to Sudan to play good football which we did,” he said. “We will go for the win in Addis Ababa as we try to qualify for the finals in South Africa.”
Sudan reached the quarterfinals of the event earlier in the year and have been preparing to make a second successive appearance. They set up a task force headed by the Football Association vice president Eltiraife Elsidding Ahmed to strategise for them.
Coach Mohamed Abdallah said even though they have a two-goal cushion, they do not see the result as a foregone conclusion. “The tie isn’t over, we have not yet finished. When we go to Ethiopia we plan to rectify our mistakes at the back and ensure we don’t concede like in the first leg.”
He has named an unchanged squad for what he sees as a crucial match. “I will not look down on Ethiopia. They are a good team and we should respect them. That is the only way we can grind out a result.”
Read original article on ESPN.
