Big shock as Ethiopia stun Ivory Coast in AFCON qualifiers

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 03:13 pm

Ethiopia stunned giant Ivory Coast 2-1 in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Tigray Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Elephants took an early lead in their Group K match when Tottenham defender Serge Aurier was the first to react after the Ethiopian keeper Abel Mamo was only able to parry a freekick from Max Gradel on the left to score in just four minutes into the encounter.
The Ethiopians drew level 12 minutes later as a freekick from just outside the area from Surafel Dagnachew deflected off the head of an Ivorian in the wall to leave Sylvain Gbohouo wrong-footed as the ball went into the net.
They hosts took the lead on 26 minutes as Shemeles Bekele picked up the ball midway in the Ivorian half, as referee waved away claims of handball, he raced into the area and his shot found its way through Gboouhou and into the net.
Ivory Coast did have chances to find an equaliser including a free header that was put wide of the target in the dying seconds of the match.
The Elephants won their opening game 1-0 against Niger while Ethiopia had lost by the same scoreline in Madagascar.