Lily Yohannes, 19, and Naomi Girma, 26, bring shared Habesha heritage to the UEFA Women's Champions League. Yohannes, born in Springfield, Virginia to Eritrean parents, stars for OL Lyonnes; Girma, born in San Jose, California to Ethiopian parents, anchors Chelsea's defense. Both emphasize the cultural significance of two East African diaspora players competing for Europe's elite clubs.
OL Lyonnes drew 0-0 with Chelsea on Sept. 30 — the only match this season the French champions haven't won by three-plus goals. With eight UWCL titles (last in 2021-22), Lyon faces Juventus Wednesday before a Nov. 19 showdown against Arsenal, which eliminated them in last season's semifinals. Yohannes insists the squad focuses on the present: "It's a new season... we have confidence in ourselves."
Yohannes, the third-youngest USWNT scorer at 16, recently netted a long-range stunner vs Inter and finished fourth in Ballon d'Or Women's Young Talent voting. Alex Morgan's first-place vote meant "the world" to the teenager, who chose the USWNT over Netherlands and Eritrea eligibility after moving to Amsterdam at age 10.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing