Senegal look to make early statement against Ethiopia in AFCON qualifier

Ethiopia and Senegal meet at the Bahir Dar International Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, both seeking their first win in Group J of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers.

The fixture comes 29 years after the teams last met, when Senegal won 3-0 in a similar qualifying match in June 1997. Souleymane Sane scored twice and Omar Traore added the third goal in the 68th minute.

Ethiopia began their campaign with a damaging 1-0 defeat by Sudan last Thursday. After a goalless first half, Mohamed Eisa scored in the 86th minute at Juba National Stadium to give Sudan, known as the Falcons of Jediane, victory.

Yohannes Sahle’s side had reached the qualifying phase by beating Sao Tome-et-Principe 4-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round. Ethiopia won the first leg 3-0 on 27 March before completing the tie with a 1-0 victory at the Dire Dawa International Stadium four days later.

The Ethiopians missed the 2023 and 2025 editions of the competition and are aiming to qualify for the AFCON finals for the first time since 2021. They finished bottom of Group A at that tournament, collecting one point from three matches.

Senegal have won all three previous meetings between the nations, scoring 10 goals and conceding two. Their first recorded victory was a 2-1 friendly win in November 1963.

Patrick Vieira’s Senegal side were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Mozambique in their opening qualifier, the former France midfielder’s first match in charge of the Lions of Teranga. Nicolas Jackson, now at Aston Villa, put Senegal ahead in the 32nd minute after a well-worked move, but Geny Catamo equalised shortly before half-time. Senegal failed to find another gear after the interval.

That result followed a mixed 2026 World Cup campaign in which Senegal lost three of their four matches. They were beaten by France and Norway in the group stage before losing 3-2 after extra time to Belgium in the last 16 on 1 July. Senegal had led by two goals before conceding twice in the final three minutes of normal time.

Senegal are pursuing a seventh successive AFCON qualification since missing the 2013 tournament. That run includes their first title in 2021, secured against Egypt, and a 3-0 victory over hosts Morocco in the 2025 final that was later awarded on a walkover after Senegal’s appeal over Morocco’s temporary withdrawal from the field. The Confederation of African Football had withdrawn the 2025 title from Senegal and awarded it to Morocco six months earlier.

Abel Yalew, who scored twice against Sao Tome-et-Principe in March, is expected to lead Ethiopia’s attack. Abubeker Nura could start in goal behind Bereket Samuel, Yared Baye, Samuel Yohannes and Bekele Berhane, with Gatoch Panom and 28-year-old Habtamu Tekeste in midfield.

Senegal could retain a similar starting line-up, with El Hadji Malick Diouf, Sadibou Sane, Moussa Niakhate and Lamine Sy in defence. Lamine Camara is set to win his 39th cap alongside Pape Gueye and Pape Matar Sarr. Ibrahim Mbaye may come into the attack, with Iliman Ndiaye competing to join Jackson.

Probable teams

Ethiopia: Nura; Samuel, Baye, Yohannes, Berhane; Gugsa, Tekeste, Panom, Tafesse; Markneh, Yalew.

Senegal: Diouf; Diouf, Niakate, Sane, Sy; Gueye, Camara, Sarr; Ndiaye, Mbaye, Jackson.

The forecast is for a Senegal victory, with the three main selections being Senegal to win at 1.35, more than 2.5 goals at 1.80 and both teams not to score at 1.60. The predicted score is 0-3, priced at 7.50 with Betclic.