CAN 2015 – ETHIOPIA: “WE WANT TO BELIEVE” AHEAD OF ALGERIA SHOWDOWN
Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes face their most critical test in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this Saturday as they travel to Blida to take on Group B leaders Algeria. Sitting behind in the race for the second qualifying spot, Ethiopia must secure a positive result to keep their hopes alive for a place in Equatorial Guinea.
Tadele Mengesha: “It’s Going to Be Very Difficult”
Ethiopian midfielder Tadele Mengesha acknowledged the mountain ahead:
“We have a tough mission against Algeria, who no longer need to be introduced. They are the best team in Africa at the moment.”
Despite the challenge, Ethiopia approaches the fixture with high morale, having stunned Mali in Bamako in their previous match. That victory injected belief and purpose into the Antelopes’ camp.
“We want to win and collect the three points to keep our chances of qualification intact,” Mengesha continued. “Even a point won’t be bad for us—the objective is to avoid going home empty-handed.”
Algeria Already Qualified – Advantage for Ethiopia?
With 12 points and a ticket to CAN 2015 already secured, Christian Gourcuff’s Fennecs might rotate their squad, opening a window of opportunity for the determined Ethiopians. But that doesn’t diminish the challenge: Algeria remains unbeaten in the qualifiers and boasts the most complete squad in Africa, featuring stars like Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, and Yacine Brahimi.
Belief Over Pressure
Mengesha summed up Ethiopia’s mentality ahead of the showdown:
“It’s not easy to make a prediction in a match like this. But believe me, we’re going to fight to make life difficult for this Algerian team, which is a source of pride for us. We can pull off a feat here in Algeria.”
Kick-off: Saturday
Venue: Blida, Algeria
Group B Standings Before Matchday 5:
Algeria – 12 pts (Qualified)
Mali – 6 pts
Malawi – 3 pts
Ethiopia – 3 pts
With two matchdays left, Ethiopia needs points and passion. Their quest for a historic qualification depends on this match—and they’re ready to believe.
