James Delivers as Ethiopia Reignites World Cup Hopes with Narrow Victory Over Guinea-Bissau at Stade Amahoro

In the thin, expectant air of Kigali’s Stade Amahoro, Ethiopia rediscovered a winning edge that had eluded them in recent months, edging past Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in a crucial World Cup qualification fixture. Ramkel James, with a single act of precision in the 27th minute, offered not just a goal but a lifeline—a hard-earned revival for an Ethiopian side searching for answers after back-to-back defeats.

For manager Wubetu Abate, the margin was slender but the implications vast. Heading into this encounter, Ethiopia’s campaign teetered under the weight of consecutive 0-2 losses against Sierra Leone and Egypt—results that threatened to unravel early aspirations. Guinea-Bissau, in stark contrast, rode a modest wave of momentum: a 2-0 dispatching of Djibouti, a gritty 1-1 draw with Sierra Leone, and the growing assurance that comes from points reliably banked.

Yet, from the opening whistle, both teams played with the measured urgency befitting the moment. The Ethiopians, animated by the prospect of redemption, pressed high and moved with intent. Guinea-Bissau, no strangers to African football’s unforgiving road, absorbed the pressure and waited for moments to counter.

The breakthrough, when it arrived, was the product of both patience and audacity. In the 27th minute, Ethiopian midfielder Abel Yalew seized upon a rare lapse in the visiting defense, threading a low pass to James at the edge of the penalty area. In one motion, James shuffled past his marker and, with an economy that belied the stakes, slotted the ball into the far corner beyond goalkeeper Jonas Mendes. It was James’s second goal in six qualifying appearances, and it could scarcely have come at a more opportune time.

Guinea-Bissau’s response was swift. Mama Baldé, their linchpin in attack, twice came close before halftime—once forcing a desperate block from Ethiopian captain Dawa Hotessa, and later heading just wide with the interval within reach. The Bissau-Guineans pressed for parity, their intensity peaking midway through the second half as Fali Candé’s curling free kick demanded a sprawling save from Teklemariam Shanko.

But for all their pressure, the moment that might have altered the narrative never materialized. Ethiopia’s backline, porous in their previous outings, found collective resolve at the hour mark, repelling a series of late Guinea-Bissau corners with a blend of composure and last-ditch urgency that drew applause from the home support.

The closing act, as the sun dipped behind the stadium’s stands, was a tableau of frayed nerves and tactical substitutions. Abate reinforced his midfield, keen to preserve the advantage and the promise it held. Guinea-Bissau’s Baciro Candé turned to his bench in search of answers, but the breakthrough always felt just out of reach—a testament, perhaps, to the shifting momentum of a qualification campaign that now looks delicately poised.

Context and Consequence

The victory marks Ethiopia’s first points in this qualification window, a necessary reprieve after a rocky September. Their defensive fortitude—a weakness so recently exploited by both Sierra Leone and Egypt—proved decisive, and James’s instinct in front of goal justified the faith of Abate, who has insisted that resilience would tell in the end.

Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, will rue a missed opportunity to solidify their position near the top of the group. With Djibouti and Sierra Leone offering inconsistent resistance elsewhere, this was a match that could have cemented their growing stature. Instead, they depart Kigali with the familiar ache of narrow defeat, their unbeaten run halted at two.

The two teams have rarely met in recent years, but this encounter will resonate beyond the immediate result. For Ethiopia, the win lifts them off the foot of the qualifying group, injecting belief ahead of a daunting trip to face Djibouti. Guinea-Bissau, with Djibouti still in their sights, must regroup swiftly to avoid ceded ground in a qualification race defined by slender margins.

There were no red cards, but not for a lack of tempers frayed. The referee’s whistle was a frequent guest in the final quarter-hour as both sides pushed the limits of physicality and composure.

Looking Forward

As World Cup qualification in Africa enters its critical junctures, every point carries outsized weight. Ethiopia’s campaign is far from revived, but on this evening at Stade Amahoro, their hopes burned just a little brighter. For Guinea-Bissau, the challenge is not just to recover, but to remember that in this cauldron, defeat can be the mother of resolve.

The journey, as ever, continues—fraught, unpredictable, but now, for Ethiopia at least, lit by the possibility of what comes next.