Lesotho draws level with hosts

Abel Yalew of Ethiopia loses his marker Yeami Dunia of Sierra Leone during the 2019 Afcon qualifier between Ethiopia and Sierra Leone at the International Stadium in Hawassa, Ethiopia on 9 September 2018 © OmnaTaddele/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Sep 04, 2019. 19:05

Lesotho achieved just what new coach Thabo Senong had hoped for by holding Ethiopia to a goalless draw away in the first leg of their World Cup first round qualifier on Wednesday.

It puts the Basotho in the driving seat for their return encounter in Maseru on Sunday where they will be hoping to win and go through on aggregate to the group stage of the African preliminaries.

Senong, who was only appointed one week ago, had made clear his intention to shore up the defence and make things tough for their hosts in front of a packed house in the nothern Amhara city of Bahir Dar.

Ethiopia had their chances to ensure home success but will feel they still have a chance to salvage something out of the tie in the second leg.

Four years ago, Lesotho suffered a surprise goal aggregate defeat to go out in the first stage of the World Cup qualifiers while Ethiopia advanced to a second leg of knockout matches where they lost to Congo.