Walmart wholesaler aims for market domination

-    Ethiopian version of Walmart to open stores next year

Like the American Walmart or the Kenyan Nakumatt Holdings, Alleis set to operate in the wholesale market as an Ethiopian version of a cash and carry business. The privately run Alle will have one billion birr of startup capital, The Reporter has learnt.

According to Joy Muchina, public relations officer, Alle plans to operate three cash and carry stores by the end of 2
014. Muchina told The Reporter that Alle will supply food and near-food products under a single roof.

Referee cheated us, says Ethiopia coach

Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw criticised the performance of the referee in their 2-0 World Cup play-off second-leg loss to Nigeria on Saturday.

Victor Moses set the African giants on their wa
y from the spot after a controversial penalty was awarded by match official Bakary Gassama for an unintentional hand-ball from Aynalem Hailu.

Saladin Said then had a notable penalty appeal turned down in the second half, although Bishaw feels the tide had already been turned by the award of Moses' spot-kick.

"I respect [Nigeria boss Stephen] Keshi; he has done a good job organising this team," the 61-year-old told reporters.

Nigeria 2-0 Ethiopia (Agg 4-1): Moses & Obinna send Super Eagles to World Cup

Victor Moses and Victor Obinna seal Stephen Keshi's men's place at Brazil 2014
The hosts were strong favourites coming into the game, with the added benefit of two away goals from the first leg, and when Aynalem Hailu was deemed to have handled the ball inside the area, Moses dispatched the penalty leaving the visitors needing two goals just to force extra time.

In truth, Sewnet Bishaw's side created little, and when Obinna thumped home a 25-yard free-kick with eight minutes remaining it sealed a comfortable passage for Nigeria.

World Cup 2014: Bishaw '100% confident' of comeback

Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw has vowed his men will give whatever it takes to overturn a first-leg defeat when they take on Nigeria in their World Cup play-off on Saturday.

Ethiopia hope to continue their surprising World Cup journey when they face Nigeria in the return leg, despite a 2-1 loss at home in mid-October.

Bishaw told BBC Sport: "This is the biggest match of my life. I want to win it. I'll fight to the maximum.

"There's no problem in my squad. All of my players are fit and the mood in the camp is very high. Everybody is waiting for the kick-off whistle."

Ethiopian police crackdown on anti-Saudi Arabia protest following migrant worker attacks

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian police have used force to disperse hundreds of people protesting against targeted attacks on Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.

Police units Friday blocked roads to prevent the protest at Saudi Arabia Embassy from growing. Some two dozen people were detained.
The police forced some journalists to delete photos. The government’s spokesman, Shimelis Kemal, wasn’t immediately available for comment.

One protester, Asfaw Michael, who was beaten, said he didn’t understand why Ethiopia wanted to shield Saudi Arabia from the protest.

Many foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are fleeing or are under arrest amid a crackdown on the kingdom’s 9 million migrant laborers. Close to 500 Ethiopians have been repatriated.

Last weekend, Saudi residents fought with Ethiopians. Video emerged of a crowd dragging an Ethiopian from his house and beating him.

 The Associated Press. 

Big match feature: Nigeria v Ethiopia

The African champions, Nigeria, look close to reaching a fifth Fifa World Cup finals after winning the first leg of this playoff against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa by 2-1 in spite of concerns over weather. Nigeria's Super Eagles have created a soft-landing for themselves ahead of the second leg clash in Calabar this Saturday and it is now the Ethiopians who have everything to play for.

It is going to be a tough ask for the Ethiopians to upset the applecart and go on to win in Calabar where their East African rivals, Kenya, where close to winning during one of the World Cup qualifying games in March this year but for Nnamdi Oduamadi's late strike.

The Walias will definitely fancy their chances of taking a pop at the Super Eagles just as their East African neighbours did on March 23. But they are just one leg away from a first World Cup appearance should they beat Nigeria in Calabar by at least 2-0 or any other two-goal margin.

Ethiopians 'surrender' in Saudi after clamp down

About 23,000 Ethiopians have surrendered to Saudi authorities since a clampdown on illegal migrant workers began in the oil-rich kingdom last week, officials have said.

The clampdown has led to clashes in the capital, Riyadh, with at least five people killed.

Saudi authorities say they are trying to reduce the 12% unemployment rate among native Saudis.

An estimated nine million migrant workers are in Saudi Arabia.

They are said to make up more than half the workforce, filling manual, clerical and service jobs.

'Hurling rocks'
Ethiopia's ambassador in Riyadh, Muhammed Hassan Kabiera, said the embassy had been informed by Saudi officials that some 23,000 Ethiopians had so far handed themselves in.

Some of them have already been repatriated, with the first group arriving in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Wednesday, reports from Ethiopia say.

In renewed clashes on Wednesday in Riyadh's Manfuhah district, a Sudanese national was killed, Saudi Arabia's state-owned SPA news agency reports.