Ethiopia’s Walias will be without two key players when they face the Flames tomorrow in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group D qualifier in Maputo, Mozambique.

The two are South Africa-based forward Abubaker Nasser who plays for DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns and veteran forward Gateneh Kibede.

Mabedi: We would rather focus on our preparations

According to Ethiopian online publication thereporter ethiopia.com, Nasser has been ruled out due to injury while Kibede, who turns out for Ethiopian Premier League side Wolkite FC, has retired.

The publication says the Ethiopian FA’s efforts to persuade Kibede to change his mind, hit a snag as the striker turned down the request.

Reads part of the report: “With in-form Adams City striker Dawa Hotesa also not in the squad, the situation has created pressure for the coaching panel.”

But Flames interim coach Patrick ‘General’ Mabedi said they won’t read much into the absence of the Ethiopian key players.

He said: “We would rather focus on our preparations than be carried away with their affairs.”

Meanwhile, just like the Flames, the Walias have also appointed an interim coach Daniel Gabremariam, who has assembled a 23-member squad for the match.

He has taken over from Wubetu Abate who agreed to a mutual termination of his contract following back-to-back defeats against Guinea.

Third-placed Ethiopia and Malawi are tied on three points, but the Walias have a better goal difference.

The Pharaohs of Egypt top the Group D with 12 points and have already qualified for the finals to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.

Guinea’s SyliNationaleare second with nine points and have one game to wrap up the qualification campaign against the Flames scheduled for September.

The Flames need to win both their remaining matches to have a chance of sailing through.

Malawi won the first leg against Ethiopia 2-1 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, courtesy of Frank Gabadinho Mhango’s brace.

Malawi then went on to lose 1-0 to Guinea, 2-0 and 0-4 to Egypt.

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