Ethiopia AFCON warm-up vs Togo cancelled

Ethiopia are now most likely to take on Guinea in an AFCON warm-up after a match against Togo was cancelled. Media reports from Addis Ababa said that the Ethiopian Football Federation have cancelled the friendly due to operational reasons. 

  

Speculation is the Togo have decided not to travel to avoid another potential stand-off with their players over bonus payments from their previous away friendly against Morocco on November 14 that the Atlas Lions lost 1-0 in Casablanca. 

  

However, Ethiopia too are in a date poser over the Guinea friendly. 

  

Guniea want to the friendly played on January 7, the same date Ethiopia are due to face Tunisia away in another friendly in Qatar. 

  

Ethiopia are considering hosting Guinea on January 6 or shifting their away date in Doha against Tunisia to January 11. 

  

Ethiopia stage their first test ahead the AFCON on Sunday when they host Niger in Addis Ababa. 

  

The game against fellow 2013 Africa Cup finalists Niger will be Ethiopia's first pre-tournament friendly since the main team went into camp in Addis Ababa  three weeks ago. 

  

Coach Sewnet will be looking for a convincing result at home to get his sides’ three-match friendly match series on the road before facing Togo at home and Tunisia away on January 3 and 7 respectively. 

  

Moreover, a good result at the National Stadium will be key in keeping a strong public interest especially after a disappointing 2012 CECAFA Cup outing where Ethiopia reached the quarterfinals despite winning just one of their four games in Uganda. 

  

Sunday’s friendly will also be a big test for Ethiopia’s four foreign-based players. 

  

Striker Faud Ibrahim of North American League side Minnesota FC is expected to make his Ethiopia debut after earlier playing for the USA U20 and U17 teams. 

  

Winger Yusuf Saleh from Swedish club Syrianska,  who was part of the CECAFA team, is also in the team hoping to impress Sewnet. 

  

Left-back Mesfin Mulugeta of Germany side Hannover II and untested USA-based striker Abdul Aman of Washington State University are the other two foreign-based players set to play on Sunday. 

  

Meanwhile, Ethiopia's key striker Saladin said of Egyptian side Waldi Gelda will miss the friendly after the club indicated they will release him 10 days before the tournament in accordance with FIFA rules.