Women Olympic Qualifiers: Ethiopia See Off Chad to Set up Nigeria Clash

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian women’s national team will play Nigeria in the second round of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics qualifiers.

The Lucy’s confirmed their progress to the second round with an empathetic 10-0 aggregate win over Chad.

Coach Firew Hilegebriel made three changes to the starting lineup when Ethiopia played host to Chad in the first leg on Thursday. Birke Amare, Nardos Getnet and Meadin Sahilu made way for Mederin Kindyihun, Netsanet Tsegaye and Nyabuony Yien.

The team went into the match with a commanding 6-0 lead in the first-leg qualifier. Lucy’s captain Loza Abera increased the aggregate lead to seven with a header in the 11th minute.

Senaf Wakuma scored the second goal from a close range in the 20th and finish off a quality build-up play with a tap-in in the final minute of the first half. Turist Lemma slotted the fourth goal of the match in the 90th minute, helping the team to win 10-0 on aggregate.

The win means Coach Firew’s meet Nigeria in the second round of the Olympic qualifiers, scheduled for October 23-31.

The match with Nigeria, one seven highest-ranked teams in Africa, will be at the start of the next Ethiopian women’s premier league season.

The players will be inactive and may have an impact on their fitness, Firew said during a post-match press briefing.

However, the coach expressed his confidence that the team won’t be intimidated by Nigeria’s ranking or reputation.

“We have a very good team too and will be ready,” the coach said, responding to a question about Lucy’s second-round opponent.

Results: Ethiopia 4 – Chad 0 (agg 10-0)

Scorers: 11′ Loza Abera, 20′ 45′ Senaf Wakuma, 90′ Turist Lemma

Starting lineup: Tarkea Bergrna, Bizuayehu Tadesse, Betelhem Bekele, Mederin Kindyihun, Netsanet Tsegaye, Nyabuony Yien, Mesay Temesgen, Aregash Kalsa, Senaf Wakuma, Redeit Asresahegn, And Loza Abera (Capitain)

The Road to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics

Two spots are reserved for Africa in the women’s division which will be contested by 25 nations. The qualifiers will be played in four rounds with the first round attracting 18 teams. Seven of the nine winners will meet one of the seven highest-ranked teams at the last Women’s African Cup of Nations in the second round. The other two will face each other.

(The story has been updated on Monday to add Coach Firew’s comments)