Mesay Teferi with Ethiopia players - Photo EFF Media.
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) have appointed Mesay Teferi to take over as the national team head coach on an interim basis.
Teferi, who happens to be the assistant of former coach Gebremedhin Haile, will lead Ethiopia in the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifying matches.
Teferi, a former Ethiopian U20 striker, will be in charge of the Walias for the upcoming AfCON qualifiers against Tanzania and DR Congo. Teferi is a well known figure in Ethiopia as he led Wolayta Dicha to the top-flight and in 2018 he won the Ethiopian Cup guiding the club to participate in CAF Confederation Cup for the first time.
Ethiopia is bottom of their group after three defeats in a row. With only a point gained, the Walias chance of qualifying for Morocco 2025 is very slim. DR Congo and Guinea are top of the group. Congo have already booked their place for next year’s AFCON.
Teferi seems to concentrate on his game plan. The team has only netted ones in the qualifying as Ethiopia is one of the lowest scoring teams in Africa.
Teferi wants to play more on transition. “We want to play with an aim. We have to attack when we get space and when we lose the ball we have to get it as fast as we can. I believe that is what we should go for.”
His predecessor Haile said similar things in previous press conferences. Teferi wants to replicate the same approach. “We have seen some things on the training ground. So we will change only a few things. We have a defensive character and it is good. But we have to attack too.”
Although the coach highlighted defensive prowess Ethiopia conceded seven goals in the two legged tie against Guinea a month ago. Ethiopia will face Tanzania on Saturday in Kinshasa.
Their final qualifying game will be on Tuesday against the already qualified DR Congo.
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