Ethiopia National Football Team - History - Recent Times

Recent Times

In the 2004 African Nations Cup qualifiers, Ethiopians missed out on qualification by 3 points, losing their final game in Guinea.

Next challenge was 2004 CECAFA Cup. There were 9 teams from around Eastern Africa: Burundi, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia. Ethiopia defeated Burundi twice, and beat Zanzibar, Tanzania and Kenya and finished with 4 wins 2 draws and 0 losses. Ethiopia made it to the final in Addis Ababa and won the cup in a dramatic nailbiting penalty shootout. Captain of the team was Zewdu Bekele, and the coach Asrat Haile. That night people all across Addis Ababa sang and danced in the streets as Ethiopia were the champions.

National team was the champion of same competition again in 2005, in Kigali, Rwanda. Coach was Sewenet Bishaw. After 0-0 with Uganda and 3-1 victory over Sudan, Ethiopia trashed Djibouti 6-0 again, then beat Somalia 3-1. Semi-finals saw Ethiopia whip Zanzibar 4-0, with Fikru Tefera scoring hat-trick. In the final match, Ethiopia took the cup with a 1-0 win over Rwanda. Scorer was Andualem Nigussie.

At 2007 CECAFA Cup Ethiopian team was out of tournament very early, after tying with the Sudanese team. Both a loss (against Zanzibar) and a draw (against Sudan) was enough to eliminate the Ethiopian team and after a long fight, and despite star Fikru Tefera's call up, Ethiopia couldn’t produce a goal. Being kicked out of the tournament early, the young and inexperienced Ethiopian squad faced a more uncertain future.

In the 2008 African Nations Cup qualifiers, Ethiopia finished bottom of their group after losing their last two games.

In July 2008 the FIFA Emergency Committee has decided to suspend the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) due to the non-compliance of the EFF with the roadmap agreed in February 2008 by FIFA, CAF and the EFF in order to normalise the situation of the federation. One of the main points established by the roadmap was the organisation of an extraordinary general assembly to deal with the motion of dismissal. In addition, the EFF offices were to be handed over to the recognised leadership of the association. Despite several reminders sent by FIFA in recent months, none of the steps established in the roadmap have been taken. The suspension of the EFF and the consequences provided for in article 14, paragraph 3 of the FIFA Statutes came into force on July 29, 2008, the day on which the federation has been officially notified of its suspension.

Ethiopia played four matches in group in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, before FIFA announced the immediate suspension of the Ethiopian Football Federation on 29 July 2008. On 12 September 2008, FIFA excluded the EFF from the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and the results of their matches were cancelled. Their failure to complete the remaining fixtures effectively eliminated them from the tournament. Ethiopia was suspended from international competitions following the sacking of the country's football federation president Ashebir Woldegiorgis by the countries authorities.

Team missed 2008 CECAFA Cup due to FIFA suspension.

In July 2009 World soccer's governing body, FIFA, has reinstated Ethiopia after organising an extraordinary general meeting under the guidance of FIFA, and electing new leaders. FIFA's executive committee voted at a meeting in May to lift the suspension, provided that EFF organised and chaired an elective general assembly. FIFA confirmed that it was satisfied with the election.

At the 2009 CECAFA Cup Ethiopia defeated Djibouti 5-0 in the opening game in the group stages of the regional tournament, but lost to Zambia and Kenya, thus finishing third and being knocked out of the tournament.

On the 2010 CECAFA Challenge Cup, in Tanzania, The Walias were drawn in Group C with Uganda, Kenya and Malawi. After the defeat against Uganda, Ethiopia beat Kenya and made a draw against Malawi. Next opponent was Zambia, and Ethiopia won 2-1. In semi-finals they lost to Ivory Coast. In a third-place battle they lost 3-4 against Uganda. Tournament’s star players and goal scorers were Shemeles Bekele of Awassa City and Oumed Oukri of Defence Force. The Walias, have exceeded fans’ expectations by reaching the semi-final stage.

In April 2011 Ethiopian Football Federation has sacked national coach Iffy Onuora just 9 months after he took charge of the Ethiopian national football team following the team’s 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Nigerian Green Eagles in Group B of the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Abuja. The Ethiopian national team played 11 matches during coach Onuora’s tenure, winning 4, drawing in 1 and losing 6 matches. The team scored 12 goals and conceded 21 goals In those matches.

In May 2011 Ethiopia have appointed former Zimbabwe and Namibia manager Tom Saintfiet as coach in place of Iffy Onuora.

However, Tom Saintfiet left his job as Ethiopia national soccer coach after just five months, citing broken promises for his departure. Saintfiet had been in charge for three African Nations Cup qualifiers, including a 2-2 draw with Nigeria that contributed to the Super Eagles missing out on African Nations Cup qualification.

The Ethiopian national soccer team advanced to the CAF group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Somalia.

Ethiopia joined South Africa, Botswana and Central African Republic in Group A.

Ethiopia tied with South Africa away from home and beat CAR at home 2-0 to top the group after the first two games. In addition, in qualification for the 2013 CAF African Nations Cup, Ethiopia tied 1-1 away with Benin away from home after a goalless draw in the first leg to progress to the last round of qualification.In the last round of qualification, Ethiopia draw 5-5 in aggregate score, but passed to the African championships due to the away goal rule. This is the first time that Ethiopia has qualified to the African cup of nations in 31 years, and it opens a new chapter in Ethiopian Sport History.