Tanzania & Ethiopia settle for draw in opening 2025 AFCON qualifier

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Sep 04, 2024. 20:08

Tanzania and Ethiopia could only manage a point in their initial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier following a 0-0 draw at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The game kicked-off to a timid pace in Dar es Salaam with neither side showing any kind of attacking impetus during the first five minutes of the match. With the possession count divided early on, physical battles for the ball often broke out in the middle of the park.

Tanzania produced the first couple of shots at goal but were unable to trouble Seid Habtamu Aregawi in goal. At the other end of the pitch, Walyas picked up pockets of space in wide areas of the pitch but were often met with aggressive defending by the Taifa Stars

With the half-time whistle approaching, both the Taifa Stars and Walyas struggled to progress the ball toward the 18-yard-areas of the pitch. All attempts at goal during the last minutes of the half went wide of the mark as the game ended 0-0 at the break.

In view of changing the complexion of the game, Tanzania summoned Pascal Msindo from the bench while Ethiopia introduced Binyam Fikre and Adis Giday into the fold at the start of the second 45.

While there were no shots at goal leading up to the 50th minute, Tanzania began seeing more of the ball and applied forward pressure at every opportunity. However, Ethiopia sat tight in warding off the home side’s attacking advances.

With the Taifa Stars increasing the pace of the match following their second-half substitutions, Ethiopia often found themselves on the back foot as the 75th minute approached.

The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock on a couple of occasions during the dying stages of the fixture but were unable to direct their shots toward goal. With the referee holding the whistle to his mouth, the game ended in a tense 0-0 stalemate at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.

Tanzania: (0) 0

Ethiopia: (0) 0

Tanzania: Salim, Mwaikenda, Job, Hamad, Mohamed, Mkami (Yahya 59’), Morishi, Balua (Shentembo 59’), Salum, Kibabage (Msindo 46’), Mzize

Ethiopia: Habtamu Aregawi, Kassaye Moges, Belay, Zegeye, Bekele, Waza, Panom, Gugusa (Gebru 46’), Gezahgen Tekle (Ayten 91’), Belay (Fikru 46’), Markneh (Hamid 75’)