By Robin Toskin
Ethiopia won the war of Horn of Africa over Djibouti with five second-half goals without a reply, silencing a battery of Somalia and Eritrea fans, who were rooting for the tiny country stretching to the Red Sea and Gulf of Eden.
Djibouti were not just fighting their football battle in the Orange Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, it was also the business of Somalia and Eritrea, two countries that have had no love lost for their big brother, Ethiopia.
In December 2006, Ethiopia sent soldiers to Somalia to help a transitional government to throw out Islamists who had taken control of Mogadishu,
leading to a war that has displaced more than 1.3 million people.
And some of the fans at Nyayo National Stadium Monday may have been part of those ejected by the war.
Eritrea, too, fought a bitter war to free themselves and have openly protested Ethiopia’s involvement in Somalia.
On the pitch, Djibouti made the most of the support, holding Ethiopia in the opening 45 minutes despite hanging on the edge for the entire half.
But the floodgates did open and after restart when Ayenew Aklilu finished coolly Berhanu Bogale’s cross after 49 minutes.
The second arrived four minutes later when Aden Girma completed a sleek move and two minutes later, Tafese Tesfaye chipped over goalkeeper Bouh Hassan.
Umed Ukuri then opened his account for a brace on 70 minutes in a bizarre fashion when he took advantage of goalkeeper Hassan’s split mind to poke one in from 24 yards out. Ukuri capped a fine display in the 89th minute when he rifled in his second and Ethiopia’s fifth after good work from Tesfaye.
In the end it was simple win but which took them top of Group A that has homeboys Harambee Stars and Zambia.
Djibouti now has a mountain to climb, especially after their best player on the evening, Ali Hassan Daher, got sent off with a silly high challenge on Tesfaye on 70 minutes. Ethiopia’s win was expected but it took them long to break down Djibouti side that was full of spirit but shot in tactical discipline.
It was not until the 14th minute that Ethiopia posed a serious threat to the Djibouti goal when Michael Desta had his attempt clawed away by goalkeeper Bouh Hassan for a corner. Eight minutes later, Umed Ukuri shot inches wide and the Ethiopians continued to pressure the Djibouti defence. They should have taken the lead two minutes later but Adane Girma completely missed Tesfaye Tafese’s cutback from 12 yards. There was a big scare on Djibouti goal when captain Kader Mohammed almost put the ball into his own net with a miscued header. Djibouti’s only attempt of the first half came after 34 minutes via a free-kick, but even then, it was yards away from troubling Ethiopian goalkeeper Assefa Dawit.
