Ethiopia vs Sierra Leone Prediction 15.11.2023

• Competition: World Cup qualification Africa - Group A
• Date: Wednesday, 15th, November 2023
• Kickoff: 19:00 UTC / 20.00 CET
• Venue: Stade El Abdi (El Jadida)

Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, two teams facing slim chances of progressing further, will kick off their group-stage qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup this Wednesday at Stade El Abdi.

Ethiopia vs Sierra Leone Betting Tips: Under 2.5

While Ethiopia and Sierra Leone may not be the weakest links in their World Cup '26 qualification group, their performance levels fall short of seriously considering a battle for a potential second-place finish. However, given that it's the opening match, it's indisputable that both national teams will approach with an added caution to avoid a stumble at the beginning, making this low-scoring encounter a logical outcome.

Even with the guests considered favorites by the bookies, outsmarting the Walia Ibex on their own turf is easier said than done, especially considering they have stumbled only once in front of their home crowd in the last 12 matches. 

Indeed, the Ethiopians have left a strong defensive imprint, holding four opponents without a goal in their last five competitive outings, a list that includes Salah's Egypt, whom they defeated convincingly with a 2-0 scoreline.

The dearth of attacking flair and a reliably solid defense have rendered Ethiopia's recent matches uneventful, as five of the last six encounters, spanning competitive and non-competitive fixtures, registered less than 2.5 goals. 

The team led by Gabremedhin Haile has fallen into a goal drought, epitomizing a series of tedious contests as they remarkably concluded four recent home matches with a blank scoreboard, each ending in a 0-0 stalemate.

Known for their footballing theatrics resulting in a cascade of goals, Sierra Leone is poised to unveil a somewhat restrained strategy this time around. The initiation of the 2026 World Cup qualification group introduces a potentially different rhythm for them. 

Despite their offensive inclinations, Leone Stars have yet to unlock the defensive puzzle presented by Ethiopia, having suffered a 0-1 defeat in AFCON 2018 and managing only a goalless 0-0 draw in a friendly confrontation.

Considering all these facts in conjunction with the high stakes, both sides aiming to avoid an uncomfortable kickoff to the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, we anticipate a hard-fought encounter with very few goal-scoring opportunities. Furthermore, it would not surprise us if this clash sees just one goal making the difference, leading us to believe that Under 2.5 goals appears to be a prudent choice.