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Triumphant Ethiopia back in Nations Cup reckoning
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopia edged the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 to throw their African Nations Cup qualifying group wide open.
Salahdin Seid scored the winner after 31 minutes at the National Stadium in the Ethiopian capital to lift the hosts above Libya and Namibia into second spot in Group 10 behind the Congolese.
DR Congo, seeking a ninth consecutive appearance at the biennial showcase of African football, have seven points, Ethiopia six, Libya four and Namibia three with only the group winners guaranteed a place among the 16 finalists.
Ethiopia, whose sole success in the championship came 45 years ago when only four countries entered, have not featured at the Nations Cup since Libya hosted the 1982 finals.
The result maintained a pattern of home victories with six in seven matches, the exception being the point DR Congo took from Libya, and the low score was in keeping with a trend that has delivered just 13 goals.
DR Congo lacked star striker Lomana Lualua from Portsmouth because officials made his travel arrangements too late and coach Henri Depireux axed another England-based striker, Shabani Nonda, citing lack of commitment.
Belgian Depireux says he has not been paid for almost a year, a claim rejected by the Congolese sports minister, and has taken the issue to world football controlling body FIFA.
He has vowed not to visit Namibia in mid-June for another qualifier although given the fondness of DR Congo officials for dumping coaches, he may be scanning the 'situations vacant' columns soon.
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