ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia and Burundi played out a 1-1 draw in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers on Friday.
Burundi women’s national team played host to the Lucy’s for the first match of the two-legged qualifier at Addis Ababa’s Abebe Bikila Stadium.
The first half was quiet until Rediet Asresahegn scored the first goal in the 39th minute to put the Lucy’s ahead.
The celebration, however, dealt a blow just before the break when Senaf Wakum saw a red card that gave Burundi a numerical advantage to Burundi.
The second half was relatively better. Aregash Kassa hit the post from close range after Lucies’ Capitan Loza Abera forced the Burundin goalkeeper into action from a free-kick.
A minute later, a strike by Burundi’s midfielder Kanyamuneza Erica leveled things up.
Coach Firew Hailegebriel’s side had two opportunities to snatch the winner but Rediet Asresahegn in the 58th minute and Loza three minutes later, failed to hit the target. The match ended 1-1.
In his post-match presser, Coach Firew said he was content with the results “given that we played half of the game with 10 players”.
According to the coach, the team made incorrect decisions during the game in their overly ambitious effort to win.
“We will correct the mistakes and will win the second leg to progress to the next round,” Firew said.
Ethiopia and Burundi will play the second leg of the WAFCON qualifiers at Abebe Bikila Stadium on Tuesday.
Source : Ethiopian Monitor