Egypt were upset by Ethiopia at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, losing 2-0 in their second Group D match in the TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The quick Ethiopian forwards repeatedly troubled a slow Egyptian defence in the opening half and goals from Dawa Hotessa and Captain Shemeles Bekele gave them a two-goal half-time advantage.
Hotessa broke the deadlock after 21 minutes with a sliding finish that beat keeper Mohamed Abou Gabal. The forward stretched in to direct the ball home after some fine work from Abubaker Nasser who had done the donkey work on the right to lay in a cross.
Just before the goal, Ethiopia had tested Gabal with Gatuoch Panom’s shot from distance which the keeper calmly collected.
Nasser came inches close to making it 2-0 for Ethiopia in the 24th minute when he ran on to a through ball from the middle, but his shot past the keeper hit the upright and rolled away.
He thought he had scored in the 34th minute when he tapped home a cross from the right, but the referee’s flag was up for offside.
The Walia Ibex however finished the half with the second goal five minutes to the break through Bekele’s thumping shot from inside the box. The skipper had started the move himself, spreading to Amanuel Gebremichael who played him through on goal.
Despite these attack-minded substitutions, Ethiopia forced them to play deep in the second half, and their attempt to claw their way back into the game failed. Although all four teams now have won one and lost one each, Egypt is bottom of Group D because of a -1 goal difference.
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers draw consists Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Guinea in Group D.
Only Ivory Coast guaranteed its presence in the 34th edition of AFCON, as the hosts of the tournament.