Ethiopia name final squad
Addis Ababa – Ethiopia coach Yohannes Sahle has announced his final 23-man squad list for the Orange African Nations Championship (CHAN) Rwanda 2016.
Ethiopian Premier League leaders, Adama City’s veteran duo Taffese Tesafye and Souliman Mohammed made the cut. It is Tesfaye’s first ever call up in nearly 6 years.
Asrat Mengeha, Tesfaye Alebachew and Alula Girma also returned to the squad.
Ethiopian Coffee defender Wendifraw Getahun has been included for the first time.
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia midfielder Biniyam Belay, Seyoum Tesfaye, Defense custodian Yidnekachew Kidane and Ethiopia Coffee playmaker Elias Mamo have been retained from the CECAFA squad of the Walias.
Sahle hopes Ethiopia would achieve a better result on their second participation at the championship reserved exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic leagues.
“We tried to include players who are performing well and have experience. Since we are not 100% perfect, we do not expect our selection to be absolute. We are not heading to Rwanda just for participation, rather we want to notch a good result than that of the 2014 edition,” said Sahle.
Ethiopia were dumped out of the group stage being bottom in their only appearance at the CHAN finals, in 2014 in South Africa.
The Walias will be battling it out alongside 2009 winners Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Angola in Group B, with matches to be played in Huye.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Abel Mamo (Mugher Cement), Yidenekachew Kidane (Defense Force), Dereje Alemu (Dashen Beer)
Defenders: Seyoum Tesfaye (Dedebit), Alula Giram (Saint George), Tekalegn Dejene (Dedebit), Souliman Mohammed (Adama City), Asechalew Tamene (Saint George), Ateneh Tesfaye (Sidama Coffee), Yared Baye (Dashen Beer),Wendifraw Getahun (Ethiopia Coffee)
Midfielders: Gatoch Panom (Ethiopia Coffee), Asrat Megeressa (Dashen Beer), Tesfaye Alebachew (Saint George), Biniyam Belay (Commercial Bank of Ethiopia), Tadele Menegesha (ArbaMinch City), Behailu Assefa (Saint George), Samson Tilahun (Dedebit), Tafesse Solomon (Hawassa City), Elias Mamo (Ethiopia Coffee)
Forwards: Ramkel Lok (Saint George), Tafesse Tesfaye (Adama City),Mulualem Tilahun (Defense Force)
Source: CAFonline.com
