Ethiopia rout Kenya in friendly

By Rebecca Gichana in Addis Ababa

The national women football team crushed to a 5-0 defeat to Ethiopia.

Shetay Sisay scored a hat trick to help the home team, known as Lucy secure a win while Rehema Zerga scored a brace.

“It was a good match and Kenya is a good team especially the goalkeepers. The Kenyans tested us and from here we are going to rectify our mistakes before we travel to Equatorial Guinea for the Africa Women’s championship,” Lucy’s head coach Abraham Tekle Haymanot told Feverpitch.

“Our team has been together for the last 2 years and we are now confident that we will record good results in the forthcoming championship. We have experienced players some of them have been in the national team for the last eight and others 10 years,” added Haymanot.

Sisay scored in the ninth minute following the Starlets’ lapse in defence.

In the 22nd minute Sisay added another goal and made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute.

Starlets’ attempt to get closer to their opponents goal were almost reduced to nothing with Lucy’s defence marshaled by the experienced captain Buzuhan Endale.

Technically superior

Starlets had only one opportunity to score in the first half but Elizabeth Mwikali’s wide shot.

Lucy went to the breather with a 3-0 lead and on return; Starlets appeared to get into their stride.

However, the technically superior Ethiopia shifted the gears and were out of sight soon after with Zerga’s brace.

“Our midfield did not work as we planned and defenders made some mistakes leading to the goals. The match was good for the team and we only need more friendly matches in order for our girls to get the experience like the Ethiopian team,” Kenya’s coach Joseph Oyoo told Feverpitch.

The Ethiopians’ took encouragement from the display with coach Haymanot confident they will do well in  Equatorial Guinea

“We will do our best. This being our third time we know how other teams play and also we have been playing other qualifying matches like Olympic qualifiers where we were eliminated by South Africa,” added Haymanot.

Ethiopia are in Group B with the seven times winners Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon while Equatorial Guinea are in Pool A with South Africa, Senegal and DR Congo.