CHAN 2014: Ethiopia, Nigeria set for friendly

The teams would play at the National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.
In what should serve as a fascinating appetiser for the 3rd African Nations Championship starting in South Africa next week, Nigeria’s senior home-based squad will tackle their Ethiopian counterparts in Abuja on Saturday.
The match starts at 4 p.m. at the National Stadium.
Both teams have qualified for the championship taking place over three weeks in three cities in the Rainbow Nation, and exclusively for professionals playing in the domestic League of their countries.
The Ethiopian squad, known as Waya Antelopes, play in Group C of the competition alongside Ghana, Congo, and Libya in Mangaung; while Nigeria’s Eagles confront host South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in Cape Town.
Group B features Zimbabwe, Morocco, Burkina Faso and Uganda, while Democratic Republic of Congo, champions of the inaugural tournament in 2009, head Group D that also includes Mauritania, Gabon and Burundi.
The General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Musa Amadu, said on the first day of 2014, that the Federation arranged the match in order to give the Eagles an appropriate final build-up session before flying to South Africa.
“We contacted a number of countries also heading to the 3rd Orange African Nations Championship, and we are delighted that the Ethiopians accepted our offer. They will arrive in Nigeria on Friday, play the game on Saturday and depart from Abuja on Sunday,” Mr. Amadu explained.
Ethiopia got the short end of the stick against Nigeria’s A Team in their African final elimination fixture for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, losing home and away 1-4 on aggregate.
The Antelopes delegation, to be led by Yoseph Tesfaye, includes 23 players and six officials. The coach is Sewnet Bishaw, who is also Coach of Ethiopia’s A Team.
ETHIOPIA’S 23 PLAYERS:
Jemal Tasew, Dereje Alemu, Tariku Getent, Degu Debebe, Aynalem Hailu, Thok James, Biyadiglign Elyas, Alula Girma, Seyoum Tesfaye, Birhanu Bogale, Abebaw Butako, Asrat Megersa, Fasika Asfaw, Mentsenot Adane, Salahadin Bargicho, Ephrem Ashamo, Behailu Assefa, Minyahile Teshome, Taddele Menghesa, Omod Okwury, Adane Girma, Dawit Fekadu, Manaye Fantu