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Ethiopia sack senior official over qualifying gaffe - Football - Eurosport Australia

The Ethiopian Football Federation sacked its general secretary on Monday after the African nation admitted fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier, a gaffe likely to cost the team three points.

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  • •  South Africa get reprieve as Ethiopia admit ineligible player

In a raucous meeting, Ethiopian football’s governing body voted to sack Ashenafi Ejigu but rejected the resignation offer by vice president Berhanu Kebede, who had previously been blamed by the body for the mix-up.

Some members of the football association and journalists at the meeting called for the whole management to be sacked.

Sahilu Gebremariam, the federation's president, said he was likely to submit his own resignation in an upcoming election for seats in the body's executive committee.

"This was a massive blunder so we all should have resigned," he told Reuters. "But we have responsibilities ahead so we voted to stay until September."

Ethiopia's 2-1 win over South Africa in Addis Ababa on June 16 had given them an unassailable five-point lead in their group and place in the final phase of African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

But hours later, world governing body FIFA said it was investigating allegations Ethiopia had played suspended midfielder Minyahile Beyene against Botswana on June 8.

Minyahile had been booked twice in previous matches and World Cup rules state a player who receives two cautions in the qualifying campaign must serve an automatic one-match ban.

He was shown a yellow card in the 1-1 draw with South Africa a year ago and again in a 1-0 win over Botswana in March.

Ethiopia, who have never qualified for the World Cup finals, are expected to be docked three points meaning a place in the final qualifying round will be up for grabs in Group A.

If the points are redistributed, Ethiopia will have 10, South Africa will be on eight and Botswana on seven with each team having one match left to play in round two.

Officials said they mistakenly fielded the midfielder. Vice-president Berhanu, also team leader during the match against Botswana, said he had lost a letter from FIFA that notified the Ethiopian body of Minyahile's bookings.

"I never use pens and papers during matches, let alone keep records of cautions," said team coach Sewnet Bishaw. "I only focus on ways to win the match."

Ethiopia play the Central African Republic on Sept. 6, while South Africa lock horns with Botswana.

Ethiopian blunder could aid Bafana - Bafana | IOL.co.za

June 18 2013 at 04:57pm
By Reuters

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Ethiopia soccer officials admitted they fielded an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier against Botswana by mistake.(Photo by AFP PHOTO/SIMON MAINA/Gallo Images)

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ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia soccer officials have admitted fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier and are resigned to being stripped of three points, potentially handing South Africa and Botswana a 2014 lifeline.

 "We have evaluated the situation and we came across the issue that we made a mistake," Ethiopian Football Federation president Sahilu Gebremariam told Reuters.

Soccer's world governing body FIFA announced on Sunday it was investigating allegations that Ethiopia had fielded an ineligible player in a qualifier against Botswana on June 8.

The announcement came hours after a 2-1 win over South Africa in Addis Ababa secured them top place in Group A and a place in the final phase of the African qualifiers for the 2014 finals in Brazil.

That win also appeared to have ended the hopes of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa and Botswana reaching next year's finals as Ethiopia had opened up what was an unassailable five-point lead in the group.

However, a place in the final round of qualifying will once again be up for grabs from Group A if, as expected, Ethiopia are docked three points for including a suspended player in their line-up on June 8.

If the points are redistributed, Ethiopia will have 10 points, South Africa will be on eight and Botswana on seven with each team having one match left to play in Round 2.

Ethiopia should not have fielded Minyahile Beyene in their 2-1 win in Botswana on June 8 as the midfielder was suspended for the match after picking up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers.

He was yellow carded in the 1-1 draw with South Africa last June, and then again in a 1-0 win over Botswana in March.

World Cup rules dictate that once a player has received two cautions in the qualifying campaign, he has an automatic one-match ban.

"We accepted the allegation, that this was inappropriate. There won't be an appeal from us being lodged," added Gebremariam.

'We are not frustrated at all since we are still leading the group. The only thing to do now is to concentrate for the next game. I am confident that we will do our best."

In their last Round 2 matches on September 6, Ethiopia play away against Central African Republic, while South Africa host Botswana.

Africa has seen an unprecedented number of disciplinary actions from FIFA against countries in the 2014 qualifying campaign.

Burkina Faso and Gabon lost points for fielding Cameroon-born players who were ineligible to play for their national teams and Sudan lost three points for using a suspended player.

There also cases pending against Equatorial Guinea, for using imported players from Brazil and Colombia in their recent World Cup qualifiers, and Togo, who played with an ineligible player when they beat Cameroon earlier this month. – Reuters

FIFA Opens Disciplinary Proceedings Against Ethiopia - fifa.com

FIFA on Sunday confirmed that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against three member associations after each have allegedly fielded an ineligible player in a few of their 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

The Ethiopian Football Association allegedly fielded an ineligible player in the match between Botswana and Ethiopia on June 8 in Gaborone.

The Togolese Football Federation allegedly fielded an ineligible player in the match between Togo and Cameroon on June 9 in Lome.

Disciplinary proceedings have also been opened against the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation for allegedly fielding an ineligible player in the match between Equatorial Guinea and Cape Verde Islands also on June 9 in Malabo.

They then launched an appealed against the decision to the FIFA Appeal Committee, and the appeal proceedings are currently on-going.

The disciplinary proceedings against the three associations is based on article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 8 of the Regulations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

Groups A-E: Ivory Coast qualify for play-offs- BBC Sport

Ethiopia 2-1 South Africa: Bafana’s World Cup dream over

Bafana have failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil following their 2-1 defeat to Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on Sunday afternoon

 

By Ernest Makhaya

MORE ON :  Ethiopia, South Africa, Ethiopia vs South Africa

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Ethiopia had the first real chance in the 4^th minute of the game when their free-kick was played into the Bafana penalty area for Kebede, but Itumeleng Khune dived to his left to deny the Walia Antelopes an early lead.
Bafana nearly punished their opponents in the 7^th minute when Bernard Parker’s clever pass was met by May Mahlangu inside the Ethiopians’ penalty box, but the Helsingborg star ballooned his shot over the bar.

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The home side looked very dangerous in their attacks, but Bafana centre-backs Thabo Nthethe and Eric Mathoho stood firm to protect Khune.
Salman Salhadin was given enough space outside the Bafana box and he unleashed a rocket that was superbly saved by Khune.
On 19 minutes, Parker shot from the edge of the box, only for the Ethiopian keeper Jemal Bushura to dive to his left for a fine save, and Bafana lacked numbers in the box to capitalize on the rebound.
Bafana nearly opened the scoring on the half-hour mark when Jemal’s poor clearance fell kindly on Parker whose header was cleared off the line by Minyehile.
Bafana deservedly took the lead in the 33^rd minute when Bernard Parker out-paced the Ethiopian defence to put the ball in the back of the net with a smartly taken volley.

Reneilwe Letsholonyane should have doubled Bafana’s lead in the 40^th minute, when he found himself in the Ethiopian box, but the dreadlocked midfielder shot straight into Jemal’s hands.
Ethiopia levelled matters in the 43^rd minute after the ball was played between the Bafana defence and Getaneh Kebede easily beat Khune to make it 1-1.
There was little action after the Ethiopians had equalized, and the score remained 1-1 after the first 45 minutes.
Bafana started the second half well and ran onto their opponents while looking to restore their lead, but they were faced with a stubborn Ethiopian defence.
Igesund then changed his strategy five minutes into the second half when he introduced striker Tokelo Rantie for Thuso Phala, and the Malmo marksman nearly gave Bafana that second goal with his first touch, but his shot was blocked for a corner.
Bafana won the free-kick on the hour mark when Tshabalala was fouled by Reda just outside the box, but his free-kick could not get past the Ethiopian wall.
The Ethiopians were in front in the 70^th minute when Bernard Parkerbeat his own keeper Khune with a powerful header to make it 2-1 to the Walia Antelopes. It was a freak own goal as the home side had not threatened in the second half.
Bafana then pushed everyone forward, and Rantie proved very dangerous for the visitors as they continued to search for that important equalizer.
Igesund then sacrificed Langerman for Katlego Mashego in the last 10 minutes, but there was little that the Swallows striker could do to at least rescue a draw.
Salhadin should have buried Bafana’s hopes deep into stoppage time when he missed the target with only Khune to beat.
The Ethiopians held on for the crucial three points that have seen them qualify for the playoffs of the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. 

Ethiopian Sport : Ethiopia vs South Africa - Pregame News - YouTube

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Ethiopia vs. South Africa CAF World Cup 2014 Qualifiers: Live Score, Preview, Predictions, Schedule 9 AM EST : Sports : Latinos Post

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By Francisco Salazar | First Posted: Jun 16, 2013 02:13 AM EDT

Tags world cup 2014, South Africa, Ethiopia

An Ethiopia soccer fan holds up his country's scarf ahead of their African Nations Cup (AFCON 2013) Group C soccer match against Burkina Faso in Nelspruit, January 25, 2013. (Photo : REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER))

Ethiopia and South Africa will fight for the top spot in Group A when they face off in the World Cup qualifiers on Sunday.

With Central Africa Republic and Botswana already eliminated from qualified, South Africa and Ethiopia have a chance to decide which team will qualify for the third round. The group winner will take on another African group winner in a two-legged playoff for a chance to earn a berth at the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer.

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Ethiopia currently holds the lead in the group with 10 points in four matches. South Africa trails them but just two points with eight points in their first four games. If Ethiopia defeats Bafana Bafana, they will clinch their spot in the third round as Africa would trail them by five points with one game to go. A loss would give South Africa the group lead while a draw would preserve the current two point difference.

The two teams faced off in their opening match of the campaign on June 2, 2012; they battled to a 1-1 draw. Since then Ethiopia has managed three straight wins while South Africa has won twice and drawn once. South Africa is coming off two straight victories against Central African Republic by a combined score 5-0; they have only scored two goals against the other two teams in the group. Meanwhile Ethiopia has managed to score six times in four games. Both sides have only conceded twice.

Prediction: Ethiopia holds home field advantage where they have won twice thus far. Look for them to defeat South Africa 1-0 and clinch a third round berth.

Start Time: Kick off starts at 9 AM Eastern Standard Time.

TV Info: The match will not be transmitted on television in North America.

Follow Live Score By Clicking HERE.

Ethiopian News in Amharic - Sunday, June 9, 2013 - YouTube

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Ethiopia beat Botswana, Zambia smash Lesotho in World Cup qualifiers - Africa - Sports - Ahram Online

Ethiopia claim a 2-1 away win over Botswana, Zambia defeat Lesotho in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers on Saturday

Mahmoud Elassal, Saturday 8 Jun 2013

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The Ethiopian national football team (Photo: ethiopianembassy.org)

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Ethiopia continued their bid for a first ever World Cup appearance after claiming a 2-1 win over Botswana to maintain their position on top of Group A of the qualifiers on Saturday.

Forward Getaneh Kebede put Ethiopia ahead in the 33rd minute and Said Salahdin doubled the lead on the stroke of halftime.

 Botswana's Sembowa pulled one back on 76 minutes but Ethiopia held on for a third consecutive victory.

They have 10 points from four games, two ahead of second-placed South Africa who crushed Central Africa 3-0 to secure their second successive win, thanks to goals from Bernard Parker, Siphiwe Tshabalala  and Katlego Mashego.

In Group J, Uganda made the most of their home advantage to defeat Liberia 1-0.

Tonny Mawejje notched the winner as early as the fourth minute.  Uganda are second in the group with five points, one ahead of third-placed Liberia. Leaders Senegal, who also have five points, face Angola later in the day.

In Group D, Zambia smashed Lesotho 4-0 at home. Jacob Mulenga opened the scoring in the 36th minute and Chris Katongo added the second one minute past the hour mark.

Mulenga notched his second of the night shortly after before Collins Mbesuma completed the rout seven minutes from time.

Zambia are on top of Group D with 10 points, one ahead of rivals Ghana.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)