Ethiopia and Malawi played to a 0-0 stalemate in their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group D qualifier at Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo on Tuesday, with the result allowing Guinea to join the list of teams which have safely secured passage to next year’s tournament.
Guinea’s defeat at the hands of group winners Egypt last week had given both the Walia Ibex and the Flames hope of overhauling the second-placed Syli National.
However, a frustrating clash in which neither team was able to capitalise on their chances means Guinea are guaranteed a top-two finish in Group D, bringing the number of qualified teams to 15: Ivory Coast (hosts), Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Egypt, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mali and Guinea.
Malawi started the brighter of the two teams and nearly claimed the lead in the 12th minute, with a fine move putting Chawangwa Kawonga free down the right of the penalty area, but he saw his shot from a tight angle well saved by Ethiopia goalkeeper Said Habtamu.
The Flames came close again in the 27th minute, with a corner kick from Alick Lungu finding the head of the unmarked Dennis Chembezi, but the defender’s glancing effort flashed just over the crossbar.
GAME FIZZLES OUT
Malawi continued to boss the game and created several more promising attacks through the first half, but the interval arrived with the teams still locked at 0-0.
Ethiopia were much improved after the restart and created their first clear chance in the 55th minute, with Binyam Belay playing a superb cross from the left to pick out the unmarked Canaan Markneh, but the latter’s shot from close range was clawed away by Malawi goalkeeper Brighton Munthali.
The Walia Ibex threatened again with just under 20 minutes of regulation time to play, as substitute attacker Yusuf Tarekgen drove into the penalty area and fired a shot on target, but Munthali made a comfortable save.
And the ‘keeper was soon in key action again, intercepting Belay’s low cross from the left as the ‘hosts’ continued to build attacking momentum.
Yet no further clear chances arose at either end of the field, leaving the game to fizzle out to a 0-0 draw which eliminated both teams.
Group D will wrap up in September with dead-rubber matches, Malawi v Guinea and Egypt v Ethiopia.
Ethiopia 0
Malawi 0
Ethiopia: Habtamu, Baye, Adugna, Tamene, Yusef, Bekele (Tekle 81’), Markneh (Haliso 89’), Yohannes, Shubisa (Tarekgen 64’), Taddese (Mamush 63’), Belay
Malawi: Munthali, Sanudi, Chembezi, Lungu, Chester, Idana (Njaliwa 83’), Nkhoma, Mwase, Banda, Kawonga (Chirwa 46’), Mbulu (Mphasi 59’)