Ethiopia booked its place at CHAN cup final third edition after an aggregate victory over rival Rwanda. Algeria will host the 2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in January.
Thanks to Walia Ibex’s super striker Dawa Hutessa’s first half splendid goal from a free kick, Ethiopia joined the 18 Nations exclusive party in Algeria after an aggregate 1-0 win over Rwanda.
The return leg in Rwanda-Kigali was considered a heavy burden after the two teams shared the spoils with a goalless draw in the first leg in Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam. But the second leg in the fully packed Huye stadium turned out in favor of Ethiopia after Dawa Hutessa’s 22nd minute winning goal from a free kick.
In high moral ground for steering Ethiopia back into the African Nations Cup final after eight years, Head Coach Wubetu Abate achieved the unprecedented feat of helping Ethiopia qualify for a back to back CAF and CHAN cup finals.
Though the two key players who played the key roles in helping Ethiopia qualify to the Cup of Nations, Egypt based Shimeles Bekele and South Africa based Abubaker Naser are absent from the squad, Wubetu did more than a good job bringing new talents to the pool thus a remarkable success for the country’s football.
The victory also avenged Ethiopia’s defeat to Rwanda in the final round of qualifying tie for CHAN 2020. Rwanda progressed to the tournament after beating Ethiopia 2-1 on aggregate.
Algeria will host the 2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in January bringing together 18 countries in the tournament that is exclusively reserved for players plying their trade in their country’s domestic league, unlike the AFCON tournament which is free for all.