Ethiopia showcased their attacking prowess with a resounding 6-1 victory over Djibouti, securing their first win in the ongoing qualifiers.
From the outset, Ethiopia dictated the tempo, netting three goals in each half to seal a commanding triumph.
The match began with Ethiopia asserting early dominance, and their persistence paid off in the 19th minute when Desta opened the scoring with a well-placed finish.
He then turned provider in the 34th minute, setting up Nassir for Ethiopia’s second goal. Just three minutes later, Nassir struck again, doubling his tally and stretching Ethiopia’s advantage to 3-0.
The first half ended with Djibouti struggling to contain Ethiopia’s attacking firepower.
Djibouti emerged from the break with renewed determination, pressing high and eventually breaking through in the 51st minute when Akinbinu found the net to cut the deficit to 3-1.
However, Ethiopia quickly reasserted their dominance, responding almost immediately as Desta found the back of the net again in the 52nd minute, courtesy of an Abdulkarim assist, restoring their three-goal cushion.
Ethiopia continued to pile on the pressure, and in the 64th minute, Nassir completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Farada committed a foul in the box.
Their relentless attack earned them another penalty in the 70th minute, which Desta confidently slotted home to complete his hat-trick and extend the lead to 6-1.
With the final whistle, Ethiopia celebrated a comprehensive victory, a significant boost to their qualification campaign.
