African Nations Championship
Result: Libya 2-0 Ethiopia
Date: 13 January 2013
Venue: Free State Stadium
Libya picked up a comfortable 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in their opening Group C clash at the Free State Stadium on Monday and take them to the top of their group.
Libya made the perfect start to their opening Group C game when they took an early lead at the Free State Stadium through El Mutasem Abushnaf with just three minutes on the clock.
The striker did well when the Mediterranean Knights caught their Ethiopian opponents on the break, and showed great strength and pace to beat his marker and fire the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.
The Libyan side then carved out a few more opportunities as Ethiopia struggled to get a foothold in the game, and should have scored a second when goal scorer Abushnaf fired over from a good position when he should have at least hit the target in the opening 15 minutes.
Adane Girma then had a 17th minute free-kick saved by Bune in the Ethiopia goal at the second attempt.
Ethiopia had to wait till the half-hour mark before they registered a first shot at goal from Behailu Assefa which was miss-hit and easily saved by the Black Stars shot-stopper.
Sewnet Bishaw’s men did however come out stronger after the half-time interval and should have levelled matters but Manaye Fantu could not hit the target with their striker proving wasteful in front of goal.
Libya then wrapped up the victory when 20 year old substitute Abdulsalam Omar came off the bench to score in the 83rd minute of the game after doing well to control a cross from the right before firing a left-footed shot past the helpless Jemal Bushra Tassew in the Ethiopia goal.
Here’s how they started:
Libya: El Mutasem Abushnaf, Ahmed Al Alwany, Abd Selam Al Fitouri, Mohamed Ali Al Gabsi, Mohamed Al Ghanodi, Moaied Abdeslam Al Gritly, Ahmed Mohamed Al Maghasi, Muataz Fadel Al Mahdi, Ali Mohamed Al Musrati, Mohamed El Hnaish El Gadi, Ali Taher El Hadi
Ethiopia: Butako Bune Abebaw, Dereje Genet Alemu, Tariku Getnet Alemu, Fasika Gebregiorgis Asfaw, Ephrem Melore Ashamo, Behailu Assefa, Hailu Reda Aynalem, Saladin Bargecho, Berhanu Bogale, Degu Debede, Biyadiglign Elyaszewg
