体坛英语新闻：South Africa to meet Ethiopia in World Cup qualifiers

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- South Africa will start their 2014 World Cup qualification campaign at home to Ethiopia on the weekend of June 2-3, 2012.

This was confirmed after the Ethiopians defeated Somalia 5-0 in their preliminary round qualifier in Addis Ababa on Wednesday to complete an aggregate victory by the same scoreline.

Ethiopia took a fifth-minute lead through Omod Okwury, before two goals in three second half minutes from Shimeles Bekele sealed the fate of the Somalis. Getaneh Kebede added a pair of late goals for the home side.

The Walya Antelopes had been in some disarray going into the tie after Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet walked out on them just two weeks before the first leg, citing differences with the Ethiopian Football Association over what he termed "broken promises."

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane now knows the lineup for Group A, with neighbours Botswana and Central African Republic the other two teams in the pool.

Although South Africa will be favorites to advance to the next stage of qualifying as pool winners, he will not be relishing the away days that have been particularly poor for the national side over the last few years.

Bafana have not won a competitive fixture away from home since a 1-0 success in Equatorial Guinea in October 2008.

Following are the Bafana's World Cup qualifier fixtures:

01-05/06/12: South Africa v Ethiopia

08-12/06/12: Botswana v South Africa

22-26/03/13: South Africa v Central African Republic

07-11/06/13: Central African Republic v South Africa

14-18/06/13: Ethiopia v South Africa

06-10/09/13: South Africa v Botswana.