AFCON (Q): Ethiopia see off São Tomé to book place in qualifying group stage

Ethiopia pipped São Tomé and Príncipe 1–0 on Tuesday to progress to the group stage of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying with a 4-0 aggregate victory. The Waliyas scored early at Dire Dawa International Stadium to complete a double over São Tomé and Príncipe.

The home side enjoyed huge crowd support in the eastern Ethiopian city of Dire Dawa as they welcomed back team captain Getoch Panom. A largely unchanged starting lineup from the hosts took only six minutes to break the deadlock.

Mesfin Tafesse beat Rogério Fernandes and squared the ball to Chernet Gugesa, who slotted home from close range to give the Waliyas the lead. The visitors almost got a leveler ten minutes later with a strike from Luís Costa, but goalkeeper Abubekir Nura pulled off a save. Gugesa, on the other end, could have doubled the lead, but a remarkable save from São Tomé goalkeeper Pedro Mateus denied him.

After the resumption, the visitors grew in confidence, but they failed to create scoring chances. The introduction of Dagigildo Cravid helped São Tomé test the hosts’ defense, while Nicola Bragança’s goal-bound shot was parried away by Nura.

 

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The East African nation secured a spot in the group stage of qualifying, while it is the end of the road for São Tomé and Príncipe after a brave second-leg performance. The Waliyas last qualified for the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, and they will be dreaming of securing a place in the competition when the group stage kicks off in September.