Ethiopia's national football team, the Walias, recorded a resounding 6-1 victory over Djibouti in their sixth World Cup qualifier match on Monday, marking their first win in the current group stage. The match, held in Rabat, Morocco, saw stellar performances from two Ethiopian strikers who each bagged a hat-trick.
SuperSport United forward Abubeker Nassir made a sensational return to the pitch after a prolonged injury absence, netting three goals to complete a remarkable hat-trick. Joining him in the goal-scoring spree was Mechal striker Bereket Desta, who also shone brightly, securing his own hat-trick in the same encounter.
Despite the dominant Ethiopian performance, Djibouti managed to find the back of the net once through Samuel Akinbinu. However, this proved to be a mere consolation as Djibouti conceded six goals for only the second time in this World Cup qualifying campaign.
This victory propels the Walias to fourth place in Group One with a total of six points. For Djibouti, ranked 191st globally by FIFA, the defeat leaves them languishing at the bottom of the group with just a single point.
The historical head-to-head record between the two nations now stands at 16 wins for Ethiopia, with Djibouti still seeking their first-ever victory against the Walias in their 18 encounters. This decisive win will undoubtedly provide a significant boost in morale for the Ethiopian national team as they continue their journey in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.