ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Jul 4 – Ethiopia head coach Abraham Mebratu has lauded the performance of Harambee Stars keeper Patrick Matasi at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt and has described him as one of the best keepers on the continent.

Despite conceding seven goals in the tournament, Matasi made a huge number of saves in all Kenya’s games especially against Senegal.

Mebratu knows Matasi too well as he not only plays his club football in Ethiopia with St. George but was in between the sticks when Kenya drew 0-0 with Ethiopia in Bahir Dar and won 3-0 in the return leg during the qualification phase.

“He may have conceded goals but he made a lot of saves in this competition. To me he is one of the best. I have seen him at St. George and also when we played and I think he is of great potential to rise to the top. He is a model for other Kenyan goalkeepers because Kenya has lots of young, good keepers,” Mebratu told Capital Sport.

He added that he was impressed with Kenya’s fighting spirit at the AFCON but has picked out two points that he believes if the country works on, they will be regulars at the biennial African championship.

“One of the areas that Kenya has to improve on is the defense. They conceded three penalties in two games and that is something bad. Tactically, the protection has to start from the middle and the tackles inside the box have to be perfect,”

“The other thing they need t improve is the attacking because most of the time, they were not doing so collectively as a team. I saw some individual actions with Olunga (Michael) but the group coordination was not good. If this works better, they can be regulars at AFCON,” the tactician stated.

Mebratu who previously worked as the Yemen national team coach has been in Egypt working with CAF’s technical committee, but will return home in the course of next week to prepare his country for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers which begin at the end of the month.

Ethiopia will be playing Djibouti in the first round of qualification.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Matasi one of the best-Ethiopia’s Mebratu

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn Friday, 5th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Dutch great Robben hangs bootsrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 12 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Autographs, selfies, practice — Gauff gets used to Wimbledon stardomrn

rn rn Tennisrn rn rn rn 12 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Mourinho says Nadal could be ‘fantastic’ footballerrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 15 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Algeria best team at AFCON, says Renardrn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 15 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Home team BTL Community lift Koroga Festival-Tatu City Trophyrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Man City sign Spain international Rodri for club record feern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Wanyama to treat Stars to dinner in Cairorn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Stars AFCON last 16 hopes quashed by Beninrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Everton making Brazilians cry with joy at Coparn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn All in or nothing as Stars face Senegalrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Golfrn rn rn rn rn South Africau2019s Thimba wins Karen Mastersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Senegal dim Starsu2019 hopes of AFCON last 16rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Harambee Stars shift focus to CHAN qualifiersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Le Roy presence inspired Migne in Starsu2019 winrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Kipyegon runs Sub-4 in return from maternityrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Dutch great Robben hangs boots

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Autographs, selfies, practice — Gauff gets used to Wimbledon stardom

rn rn rn Tennisrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Mourinho says Nadal could be ‘fantastic’ footballer

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Algeria best team at AFCON, says Renard

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Home team BTL Community lift Koroga Festival-Tatu City Trophy

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL EGYPT WIN 2019 AFCON AT HOME?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Man City sign Spain international Rodri for club record fee

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Sprints are like gunfight at OK Corral, says Gatlin

rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Ojee named May StarTimes Sports Personality

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Senegal keeper Mendy out with hand injury

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Lampard appointed Chelsea manager

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Matasi one of the best-Ethiopia’s Mebraturn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 5th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Egyptian fans divided over AFCON chancesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 5th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Jassy eager to exorcise Safari Rally ghostsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Dutch great Robben hangs bootsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Manvir out to shine at Safari Rallyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tWanyama to treat Stars to dinner in Cairorn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStars AFCON last 16 hopes quashed by Beninrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Tuesday, 2nd Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEverton making Brazilians cry with joy at Coparn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tAll in or nothing as Stars face Senegalrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Monday, 1st Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSouth Africau2019s Thimba wins Karen Mastersrn

rn Golfrn rn Monday, 1st Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSenegal dim Starsu2019 hopes of AFCON last 16rn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Monday, 1st Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tHarambee Stars shift focus to CHAN qualifiersrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 3rd Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tLe Roy presence inspired Migne in Starsu2019 winrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKipyegon runs Sub-4 in return from maternityrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Monday, 1st Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Matasi one of the best-Ethiopia’s Mebraturn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 5th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Egyptian fans divided over AFCON chancesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 5th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Jassy eager to exorcise Safari Rally ghostsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Dutch great Robben hangs bootsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Manvir out to shine at Safari Rallyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */