Bracing Up for Eagles: Ethiopia Up for Zambia Friendly as Ghana, Cameroon Dismiss Request

Ethiopia is expected to engage the ‘Chipolopolo’ of Zambia in an international friendly match ahead of Sunday October 13 World Cup playoff against Nigeria in Addis Ababa.

Efforts by the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) to secure a friendly against Ghana and Cameroon failed to yield a positive result as the two West African nations turned down the warm-up match request.

The EFF vice-chairman Teka Asfaw disclosed a local radio station ShegerSport Ghana and Cameroon rejected their request owing to claims that their foreign-based players wouldn’t be able to arrive on time for the match.

Ethiopia may Play Zambia Ahead of Eagles.
Ethiopia may Play Zambia Ahead of Eagles.

The ‘Walyas Antelope’ will now use the friendly against Zambia to finep-tune their final preparation for the 2014 Fifa World Cup African zone third round qualifier.

The Zambian officials have already confirmed their willingness to be in Addis Ababa as soon as their team returned from another friendly oversees.

A similar proposal made to Egypt by the EFF fell through as the seven-time African champions insisted the game be played in Cairo, which the Ethiopians dismissed.