Ethiopia Walia Ibex interim coach Gebremedhin Haile has dropped 5 players from the  squad that will face Lesotho in Maseru this Sunday in an Afcon 2017 clash.

Inspirational striker Salahdin Said is one of the key players that will miss the important match due to a hamstring injury he suffered while playing a friendly match for the National team against local side Ethiopia Nigd Bank.

Also dropped from the list are Samson Assefa, Addis Tesaye, Ephrem Wondesen and Mulualem Mesfin who were all axed from the squad .

Senior player Seyoum Tesfaye had a passport hitch and was immediately replaced by Yohannis Desta of Hawasa Kenemail.  that could not been sort out on time.

Speakingto Soka25east.com Gebremedhin was optimistic his charges would give a good account of themselves

“We have had positive preparations and I have told my players football dynamics have changed and we no longer have any easy game.We will give our best against the much improved Lesotho.We will miss some key players but we will not let that to stop our mission ” Gebremedhin told Soka25east.com

“ Our mission is to win the remaining ties and wait for the other groups’ results then gauge our results .”he added.

 Ethiopia Walia Ibex  are  second in Group J with five points, five shy of leaders Algeria.

In the other group match Seychelles entertains leaders Algeria in the other group game on Thursday. A draw against Seychelles in Victoria is enough for ‘Les Fennecs’ to insure a safe passage to the Gabon 2017 African Cup of Nations. Walias departed to Maseru via South Africa on the morning.

Coach Gebremedhin handed  the captaincy to South African based  Getaneh Kebede.

Ethiopia Walia Ibex Full Squad:

Goal Keepers:
Jemal Tassew (Mekelakeya), Abel Mamo (Mugher Ciminto)

Defenders:

Asechalew Tamene (Kidus Giorgis), Abdulkerim Mohammed, Ahmed Reshid (Ethipia Bunna), Anteneh Tesfaye (Sidama Bunna), Yared Bayeh (Dashen Bira), Desta Yohannis (Hawassa Ketema)

Midfielders:

Shemeles Bekele (Petrojet/Egypt), Ephrem Ashamo (Ethiopia Nigd Bank), Asrat Megerssa (Dashen Bira), Tadele Mengesha (ArbaMinch Ketema), Shemkit Gugesa (Dedebit), Mentesenot Adane (Kidus Giorgis), Gatoch Panom (Ethiopia Bunna), Elias Mamo (Ethiopia Bunna)

Strikers:
Getaneh Kebede (University of Pretoria/South Africa), Tafese Tesfaye (Adama Ketema), Dawit Fikadu (Dedebit)