"Ethiopia Will Play Liberia" EFF
Addis Tribune (Addis Ababa)
March 28, 2003
Posted to the web March 29, 2003
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF)
Tuesday confirmed that the African Nations Cup qualifier in Addis
Ababa between Ethiopia and Liberia will go ahead despite reports that
the Liberian Sports Ministry had disbanded the National team.
Ato Ashenafi Ejigu, general secretary of
the EFF, told Addis Tribune that the Federation had not received any
confirmation from the football governing body in Africa about a
cancellation of the match. "We say that the match will go ahead until
the last day," he said. "We have not received anything official from
CAF that will force us to act otherwise."
He further added that he had made further
attempts to contact the Liberian Football Federation by fax and
telephone, but there had been no replies. "I personally faxed them for
confirmation in the last fortnight," he said. "I have also tried
contacting them by phone, but there was no reply in both occasions."
The Liberian Sports Ministry on Saturday
announced the withdrawal of the Lone Stars from all international
engagements including the 2004 African Nations Cup qualifiers as of
immediate effect confirming months of speculation that the country was
clearly short of money.
But in a statement it issued, the Liberian
Football Association had dissociated with the Sports Ministry and was
adamant about taking the team to Ethiopia. In a statement it issued
through its Public and Press office, the FA stressed that the cost
associated with the withdrawal was higher than Liberia's participation
in the four remaining matches of the African Cup of Nations qualifying
series. It further added that everything would be done to ensure that
the Team went to Ethiopia to honor the match and subsequent
participation in the Nations' Cup qualifying series.
While Liberia are in a limbo about their
own participation, the Ethiopian Football Federation announced late
last week that it was facing a financial crisis of its own. In a
public address on Ethiopian Television, the Federation made an
official appeal to sponsors to help it finance its encounter with
Liberia and the rest of the African Nations Cup tournament.
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