AFCON2019: New Ethiopia coach rallies his pack for Sierra Leone

Ethiopia new boss Abraham Mebratu has named a 34-man provisional squad in preparation for the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone in Hawassa September 9.

The 48-year-old will face a tough test in his first task against a resilient Sierra Leone in the race to Cameroon 2019.

The most notable inclusions are Petrojet midfielder Shemeles Bekele, Smouha SC attacker Omod Okuri, Gatoch Panom of El Gouna all three based in Egypt and forward Getaneh Kebede, who is presently unattached also makes the squad.

Mebratu, who qualified Yemen senior team for the first time to the Asian Cup named a Walias squad mainly dominated of local stars with only four trading their football outside Ethiopia.

The Waliyas will enter residential camp in Hawassa comes August 7.

He is expected to trim the squad to 23 players before his charges take on the Western African nation.

Provisional Squad:

Goalkeepers: Abel Mamo (Mekelakeya), Samson Asefa (Dire Dawa Ketema), Tekelemariam Shanko (Hawassa Ketema), Tsion Merede (ArbaMinch Ketema)

Defenders: Henok Adugna (St George), Abdulkerim Mohammed, Salahdin Bargicho, Asechalew Tamene (Kidus Giorgis), Mujib Kassim, Solomon Habte, Amsalu Tilahun (Fasil Kenema), Addis Tesfaye (Mekelakeya), Awot GebreMikael (Ethio-Electric), Temesgen Castro, Ahmed Reshid (Ethiopia Bunna), Anteneh Tesfaye (Dire Dawa Ketema)

Midfielders: Gatoch Panom (El Gouna/Egypt), Mulualem Mesfin, Natnael Zeleke (both from Kidus Giorgis), Amanuel Yohannes (Ethiopia Bunna), Bezabeh Meleyo (Fasil Kenema), Shemeles Bekele (Petrojet/Egypt), Canaan Markneh (Adama Ketema), Tafese Solomon (Hawassa Ketema), Biniyam Belay (KF Skenderbeu Korce/Albania)

Attackers: Getaneh Kebede (Unattached), Abel Yalew, Behailu Asefa(both from Kidus Giorgis), Addis Gidey (Sidama Bunna), Omod Okuri (Smouha SC/Egypt), Dawa Hotessa (Adama Ketema), Abubakher Nessero (Ethiopia Bunna), Amanuel GebreMikael (Mekele Ketema), Israel Eshetu (Hawassa Ketema).