Abraham Mebratu, the Ethiopia national team head coach has named his final team that will take on Harambee Stars in a 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Wednesday 10 October in Ethiopia.
The coach has named a 25-man team for the clash slated for Bahir Dar Stadium with the second leg to be hosted in Nairobi four days later. The coach will pin a lot of hopes on striker Gatoch Panom who plies his trade with Egyptian side El Ghouna.
A chunk of players in the team ply their trade with the local teams and Kenya should be wary of the team which denied them a place in the 2016 CHAN Championship with Ethiopia having beaten Kenya 2-0 the last time the teams met in Ethiopia.
Just like Stars, Ethiopia arrives into the game on a back of a win, having beaten Sierra Leone, a result that brought Group F back to square One with all the teams now with three points, Ethiopia having lost their first game against Ghana.
The expansion of the AFCON tournament will allow two teams from the group make it to Cameroon for the continent grandest showpiece in Cameroon in 2019.
Overall, the two nations have faced off 42 times with Ethiopia winning 18, Kenya 14 while 10 have ended in draws.
Final Squad
Goalkeepers: Samson Assefa (Dire Dawa City), Tekelemariam Shanko (Hawassa City), Tsion Merede (ArbaMinch City)
Defenders: Abdulkerim Mohammed, Asechalew Tamene, Henok Adugna, Salahdin Bargicho (Saint George), Anteneh Tesfaye (Dire Dawa City), Mujib Kassim, Amsalu Tilahun (Fasil Kenema), Ahmed Reshid, Temesgen Castro (Ethiopian Coffee)
Midfielders: Mulualem Mesfin, Natnael Zeleke, Behailu Assefa (Saint George), Gatoch Panom (El Gouna/Egypt), Shemeles Bekele (Petrojet/Egypt), Biniyam Belay (Skenderbu Korce/Albania), Amanuel Yohannes (Ethiopian Coffee), Canaan Markneh (Adama City), Shemekit Gugesa (Fasil Kenema)
Forwards: Getaneh Kebede, Abel Yalew (Saint George), Omod Okuri (Smouha SC/Egypt), Dawa Hotessa (Adama City), Addis Gidey (Sidama Coffee)