Ethiopia have recorded their first victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mozambique in their third-round encounter.
The decisive moment came in the 87th minute when Canaan Markneh found the back of the net to hand the Ethiopian national team a crucial victory and spark celebrations among their supporters.
The late goal proved enough to separate both sides in an encounter that saw Ethiopia battle until the closing stages to secure maximum points.
The victory represents an important boost for Ethiopia, who had struggled to make an impact in their previous qualifying matches.
Despite securing all three points, however, the result does little to change Ethiopia’s position in Group J, as they remain at the bottom of the standings with three points, level with Sudan.
Mozambique, meanwhile, remain in second place with four points despite suffering the narrow defeat.
The result leaves the battle for qualification in Group J finely balanced, with both teams still having work to do as the campaign progresses.
For Ethiopia, Canaan Markneh’s late strike could prove a turning point in their quest to revive their AFCON 2027 qualifying hopes.
Mozambique will now be looking to bounce back in their next fixture as they aim to strengthen their position and keep their qualification ambitions on track.
