Abraham Mebratu might have been officially unveiled only this week as the new Ethiopia Walia Ibex coach but he has immediately embarked on the task of Africa Cup of Nations (2019) Qualifiers by calling a provisional team of 34 players a month before the important clash against Sierra Leone.

Mebratu has kept his faith with  local players who make the bulk of the squad that comprises only four foreign based players in a mixture of youth and experience.

Experienced players such as defender Salhadin Bagicho,keeper Abel Mamo, Gatoch Panom,Mulualem Mesfin,Shemeles Bekele,Getaneh Kebede and Omod Okuri will bring in the much needed dimension and wealth of experience to the team having featured for Walia Ibex for many years.

Walia Ibex play Sierra Leone on September 9, 2018 in Hawassa.Coach Mebratu is expected to trim the players to 23 as they attend residential training to prepare for the game.

Goalkeepers:

Abel Mamo (Mekelakeya), Samson Asefa (Dire Dawa Ketema), Tekelemariam Shanko (Hawassa Ketema), Tsion Merede (ArbaMinch Ketema)

Defenders:

Henok Adugna, Abdulkerim Mohammed, Salahdin Bargicho, Asechalew Tamene (Kidus Giorgis), Mujib Kassim, Solomon Habte, Amsalu Tilahun (Fasil Kenema), Addis Tesfaye (Mekelakeya), Awot GebreMikael (Ethio-Electric), Temesgen Castro, Ahmed Reshid (Ethiopia Bunna), Anteneh Tesfaye (Dire Dawa Ketema)

Midfielders:

Gatoch Panom (El Gouna/Egypt), Mulualem Mesfin, Natnael Zeleke (both from Kidus Giorgis), Amanuel Yohannes (Ethiopia Bunna), Bezabeh Meleyo (Fasil Kenema), Shemeles Bekele (Petrojet/Egypt), Canaan Markneh (Adama Ketema), Tafese Solomon (Hawassa Ketema), Biniyam Belay (KF Skenderbeu Korce/Albania)

Forwards:

Getaneh Kebede (Unattached), Abel Yalew, Behailu Asefa(both from Kidus Giorgis), Addis Gidey (Sidama Bunna), Omod Okuri (Smouha SC/Egypt), Dawa Hotessa (Adama Ketema), Abubakher Nessero (Ethiopia Bunna), Amanuel GebreMikael (Mekele Ketema), Israel Eshetu (Hawassa Ketema)