Defense goalkeeper Abel Mamo has been omitted from Ethiopia’s provisional CHAN 2018 squad which starts residential camp in Dire Dawa today.

Abel soaked in five goals away to Ghana in the Afcon 2019 qualifying match early last month.

Dire Dawa Kenema’s keeper Samson Assefa has been summoned by the head coach Ashenafi Bekele to take his place.

Apart from the change in the goalkeeping department, Ashenafi has not tinkered much with the team which traveled to Ghana – dropping just three foreign based professionals.

They are Gatuoch Panom, who recently moved to Russia, Egypt based Omued Okuri and Shemeles Bekele.

CHAN championship is played by strictly local based professionals.

Three St. George F.C players who didn’t make the Ghana trip including Behailu Assefa, Mintesnote Adane and Natnael Zeleke have been drafted in the 21-man squad.

They are expected to join the camp after the final group matches of the African Champions League next week.

Teams active in the Ethiopian Cup like Defense and Jimma Aba Bunna will also keep their players in the meatime.

The Walia Ibex will take on Djbouti in the first leg of the first round qualifiers of the Kenya 2018 CHAN

The Full Squad:

Goal keepers

Jemal Tassew- Jimma Aba Buna
Le’alem Berhanu- Sidama Buna
Samson Assefa- Dire-Dawa k.

Defenders

Aschalew Tamene- St.George
Salhadin Bergicho- St.George
Desta Yohannes- Hawassa kenema
Seyoum Tesfaye- Dedebit
Antenh Tesfaye- Sidama Buna
Mujib Kassim- Adama Kenema
Amsalu Tilahun- Fasil kenema
Abdulkarim Mohammed- Ethiopia Buna

Midfielders

Mulualem Mesfin- Sidama Buna
Gaddisa Mebrate-Hawassa kenema
Tafesse Solomon- Hawassa kenema
Natnael Zeleke- St.George
Behailu Assefa- St.George
Shemkit Gugsa- Dedebit

Forwards

Salhadin Said- St.George
Getaneh Kebede- Dedebit
Addis Gidey- Sidama Buna
Abdurahman Mubrake-Fasil kenema