Ethiopia Battle Back to Beat Lesotho in AFCON 2017 Qualifier
Ethiopia kicked off their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho on Sunday, coming from behind to claim all three points in front of their home fans.
The Walya Antelopes started the match slowly and were punished just before the break when Lesotho took the lead in the 41st minute. However, Ethiopia responded with renewed intensity in the second half.
Midfielder Gatoch Panom pulled the hosts level in the 68th minute with a well-placed effort that re-energised the team. Ten minutes later, experienced forward Saladin Said completed the comeback, scoring in the 78th minute to seal the win for the home side.
Despite a nervy finish, Ethiopia held on to secure the victory and open their Group J campaign on a positive note. They now sit level on three points with Algeria, who defeated Seychelles 4-0 a day earlier.
The result is a morale-boosting one for Yohannes Sahle’s side, who are aiming to return to the continental stage after missing out on the 2015 tournament. With strong competition from Algeria in the group, every point will be crucial in the race to Gabon 2017
