The Internationals: Ethiopia v Togo; Cameroon v Libya

May 24 – May 26, 2012

The matches between Ethiopia and Togo were a microcosm of the state of Ethiopian soccer: young, improving, and ultimately not there yet.

Tadesse Makonnen’s U19 side was impressive, defeating the young Togolese by a score of 3-0, with goals from Bahir Dar’s Teodoros Heshu and Harrar Beer’s Tafess Ayenew, as well as Saint George’s Meseret Desta. Desta, along with teammate Liban Elmi, were the stars of the game, and the result was certainly well-earned.

U19 International
Ethiopia U19s v Togo U19s, Addis Ababa Stadium
Ethiopia 3 (Tafess Ayenew 10, Meseret Desta 32, Teodoros Heshu 49) – Togo 0
MoM: Desta (8.5) Togo’s Best: Komi Zakari (6.6)
Attendance: 1167. Referee: Prince Clarence.

The U21 game between the two nations was an even bigger surprise: a goal with under ten minutes to go from Mohammed Abera (whose exclusion from the national side remains a mystery) broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Ethiopian side the victory. Tellingly, both of Ethiopia’s goals were from players homed outside the home nation: Abera is in the reserves at Hoffenheim and Adane Metesenot plays for Plaza Amador in Panama.

So, with victories at the youth levels, what would the main attraction bring?

Most of all, it would bring Emmanuel Adebayor. Adebayor has had a difficult year, signing with Newcastle, but unable to play in competitive matches due to changing clubs three times during the season. He was clearly itching to show he was ready to produce, dominating the Ethiopian defense and contributing a brace of goals. Add to that a controlling performance from Serge Gakpé—rumored to be on his way to Manchester United this summer—and Togo rolled to 4-1 victory.

The consolation, if there were any, was in Lencho Skibba’s late goal, which capped an impressive performance by the attacking midfielder from Saint George. Other than that, though, the game exposed the talent gap facing the East Africans, with Samson Mulugeta, generally accepted as the best Ethiopian defender currently playing, being dominated again and again by Adebayor and his fellow forwards, Arafat Djako and Jonathan Ayité, each of whom tallied a goal.

Elsewhere, Danyil Oranje’s Cameroon side had more trouble than anticipated in their game with Libya, needing a well-placed header from Samuel Eto’o in a game they really should have won by more. The game was indicative of Cameroon’s challenge: despite strong games from Achille Emana and Raoul Ngome, where the quality to replace Eto’o will come from remains a mystery.

World Cup Qualifying, Africa, Second Round Group 2
Cameroon v Libya, Stade Ominsports Ahmadou Ahidjo
Cameroon 1 (Samuel Eto’o 49) – Libya 0
MoM: Achille Emana (8.5) Libya’s Best: Meftah Ghazala (7.0)
Attendance: 45,587. Referee: Adisu Woldemarian.