World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Ethiopia entertain Sierra Leone in Morocco
Leone Stars of Sierra Leone training ahead of the match against Ethiopia. (Photo by SLFA)
FREETOWN, November 15, 2023 - The fight for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will get underway today, Wednesday, November 15. The Walia's of Ethiopia and Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will set the ball rolling in Group A of the qualifiers as they go head to head at the Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium in Morocco.
Both sides will have to put their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaigns behind them having failed to reach the African football showpiece next year in Ivory Coast. The quest to start their group opener for a World Cup debut in 2026 on a winning note will create more tension and toughness throughout the 90+ minutes.
DISAPPOINTING AFCON QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN Host, Ethiopia wrapped up another disappointing 2023 AFCON qualifying campaign on September 8 when they suffered a 1-0 loss against seven-time African champions Egypt but before that, a brace from Shimelis Bekele inspired Ethiopia to a 2-0 friendly victory over Guyana on August 3, a result which brought their six-game winless run across all competitions to an end.
However, September's loss against Egypt meant that the Walia Ibex ended the AFCON qualifiers without a win in their final four matches, a run which saw them finish rooted to the bottom of Group D with four points from six matches.
WALIA'S WINLESS RUN The East African side have now gone seven competitive games on the bounce without a win, losing five and picking up two draws since a shock 2-0 victory over Egypt on June 9.
The last time out in this qualifiers, The Walias came closest in 2014, when they finished as Group A winners with 13 points from six matches but their hopes were dashed in the last hurdle as they suffered a 4-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of Nigeria in the playoffs.
POOR STARS Leone Stars of Sierra Leone on the other hand also endured a poor run in the Nations Cup qualifiers securing just five points from their Group A stage to finish third in the group with eight points behind second-place Guinea Bissau.
However, Amidu Karim as the new head coach who replaced his former boss, John Keister, Leone Stars returned to Sierra Leone, the other hand, returned to winning ways last time out as they edged out Somalia 2-0 when the two nations squared off in a friendly match at the Stade Municipal de Berrechid on October 14.
This followed a 1-1 draw against Benin when Denmark-based striker Mohamed Buya Turay opened the scoring before Angers defender Cedric Hountondji struck in the ninth minute of stoppage time to force a share of the spoils.
PAST WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS In 2015 and 2019, Leone Stars failed to reach the group stages of the World Cup qualifiers courtesy of playoff defeats against Chad and Liberia respectively, Sierra Leone now make their first group-stage appearance since 2013, when they finished third in Group B.
NEW ETHIOPIA MANAGER Newly appointed Ethiopia manager Haile named a 30-man squad for the qualifying games against Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso, with Bekele, Seid Habtamu and Kenean Markneh headlining the team.
And Sierra Leone on the other hand have called up 24 including the likes striker Mohamed Buya Turay, as well as Tyrese Fornah, Abdulai Jajue Kabia and Charlton Athletic FC man Daniel Kanu who are expected to be handed their debut on Wednesday.
HEAD-TO-HEAD Ethiopia have won the last 2 matches they have played against the Leone Stars. However coming into this fixture, Sierra Leone are in better form with only 2 defeat in the last 5 games. Ethiopia has only won 1 of their last 5 games and played 1 draw.
Both sides will have to put their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaigns behind them having failed to reach the African football showpiece next year in Ivory Coast. The quest to start their group opener for a World Cup debut in 2026 on a winning note will create more tension and toughness throughout the 90+ minutes.
DISAPPOINTING AFCON QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN Host, Ethiopia wrapped up another disappointing 2023 AFCON qualifying campaign on September 8 when they suffered a 1-0 loss against seven-time African champions Egypt but before that, a brace from Shimelis Bekele inspired Ethiopia to a 2-0 friendly victory over Guyana on August 3, a result which brought their six-game winless run across all competitions to an end.
However, September's loss against Egypt meant that the Walia Ibex ended the AFCON qualifiers without a win in their final four matches, a run which saw them finish rooted to the bottom of Group D with four points from six matches.
WALIA'S WINLESS RUN The East African side have now gone seven competitive games on the bounce without a win, losing five and picking up two draws since a shock 2-0 victory over Egypt on June 9.
The last time out in this qualifiers, The Walias came closest in 2014, when they finished as Group A winners with 13 points from six matches but their hopes were dashed in the last hurdle as they suffered a 4-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of Nigeria in the playoffs.
POOR STARS Leone Stars of Sierra Leone on the other hand also endured a poor run in the Nations Cup qualifiers securing just five points from their Group A stage to finish third in the group with eight points behind second-place Guinea Bissau.
However, Amidu Karim as the new head coach who replaced his former boss, John Keister, Leone Stars returned to Sierra Leone, the other hand, returned to winning ways last time out as they edged out Somalia 2-0 when the two nations squared off in a friendly match at the Stade Municipal de Berrechid on October 14.
This followed a 1-1 draw against Benin when Denmark-based striker Mohamed Buya Turay opened the scoring before Angers defender Cedric Hountondji struck in the ninth minute of stoppage time to force a share of the spoils.
PAST WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS In 2015 and 2019, Leone Stars failed to reach the group stages of the World Cup qualifiers courtesy of playoff defeats against Chad and Liberia respectively, Sierra Leone now make their first group-stage appearance since 2013, when they finished third in Group B.
NEW ETHIOPIA MANAGER Newly appointed Ethiopia manager Haile named a 30-man squad for the qualifying games against Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso, with Bekele, Seid Habtamu and Kenean Markneh headlining the team.
And Sierra Leone on the other hand have called up 24 including the likes striker Mohamed Buya Turay, as well as Tyrese Fornah, Abdulai Jajue Kabia and Charlton Athletic FC man Daniel Kanu who are expected to be handed their debut on Wednesday.
HEAD-TO-HEAD Ethiopia have won the last 2 matches they have played against the Leone Stars. However coming into this fixture, Sierra Leone are in better form with only 2 defeat in the last 5 games. Ethiopia has only won 1 of their last 5 games and played 1 draw.
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