Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said this about an African Nations Championship qualifying match between Ethiopia and Eritrea, set to be held between January 14 and 16, 2013, in Asmara, Eritrea.

There were various reports claiming that Ethiopian Football Federation officials ask the organiser, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to change the venue to a neutral place. however Hailemariam told Aljazeera, a television network, last week that there is nothing for Ethiopian footballers to be afraid of when playing the match inAsmara.