An Aschalew Girma low cross in the 92nd minute was turned in by Tanzania centre back Salim Mbonde to send Ethiopia into the quarter final of the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in a dramatic fashion Today at the Hawassa International stadium.
All Ethiopia needed to advance was a draw against Tanzania but the task was made difficult when Simon Msuva, top scorer of the 2014/15 Vodacom Tanzania Premier League, gave Tanzania the lead in the 52nd minute with a easy header after Mohammed Hussein’s cross was deflected into his path. Ethiopia should have leveled matters in the 58th minute when a pin point cross from Bereket Yisak was wasted due to miscommunication between Mohammed Nassir and Aschalew Girma. Elias Mamo, Ramkel Lokk, and Aschalew Girma were brought in by coach Yohannes Sahle in an effort to get the crucial goal and the substitutions proved successful as the Walias were able to put pressure on the Tanzanians. Gathuoch Panom delivered a brilliant pass to release Aschalew Girma on the right, and the winger’s hard, low cross was tapped in by Salim Mbonde to bring Ethiopia level, sending the capacity crowd at the Hawassa International Stadium into a frenzy.
The result sees Ethiopia and Sudan join group winners and runner ups in the quarter final by the virtue of being the best 3rd placed teams.
Action will return to the capital on Monday as Malawi faces Group B winners Uganda and Ethiopia squares off against the Kilimanjaro Stars once again at the Addis Ababa Stadium. On Tuesday, group foes Sudan and South Sudan will go up against one another in the second Sudanese derby while the Harambee stars of Kenya take on Rwanda in the late kickoff. 2015 DSTV CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup
Quarter Final Fixtures
Monday (November 30, 2015)
Uganda Vs Malawi
Ethiopia Vs Tanzania
Tuesday (December 1, 2015)
South Sudan Vs Sudan
Kenya Vs Rwanda