Ethiopia delivered a commanding performance as they thrashed Djibouti 6-1 to register their first victory in the ongoing qualifiers. The Ethiopian side dominated from start to finish, scoring three goals in each half to seal an emphatic win.

The match kicked off with Ethiopia asserting early control, and their persistence paid off in the 19th minute when Desta broke the deadlock with a well-taken goal to give his side a 1-0 lead. He soon turned provider, setting up Nassir in the 34th minute for Ethiopia’s second goal. Just three minutes later, Nassir doubled his tally and extended Ethiopia’s lead to 3-0, leaving Djibouti struggling to cope with the attacking firepower. Ethiopia comfortably went into halftime with a commanding lead.

After the break, Djibouti came out with renewed intensity and applied pressure on Ethiopia. Their efforts bore fruit in the 51st minute when Akinbinu found the net, reducing the deficit to 3-1. However, Ethiopia responded almost instantly, as Desta struck again just a minute later from an Abdulkarim assist to restore the three-goal cushion at 4-1.

Ethiopia continued their relentless attack, and in the 64th minute, Nassir completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Farada committed a foul in the Djibouti box. With Ethiopia in full control, they were awarded another penalty in the 70th minute, which Desta confidently converted to complete his own hat-trick and extend the lead to 6-1.

The final whistle confirmed Ethiopia’s dominant victory, marking a crucial milestone in their qualification campaign.