Ethiopia’s Walia Ibex are making a return to the TotalEnergies Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) for the first time since 2016 and are looking for a better performance this time.
The Walias last qualification to the tournament was in 2016 and they have failed to qualify for the last two editions. Ethiopia hope to build on from their qualification to the 2021 AFCON, hoping the lessons picked from Cameroon can spur them on to the home-based players’ tournament.
Ethiopia is one of the few African countries whose main national team is majorly composed of local based players and almost the entire team that travelled to Cameroon for the AFCON in January is expected to do duty in Algeria next month.
Ethiopia have been drawn in group A for the tournament and will square out with hosts Algeria, Libya and Mozambique.
Match Schedule (Group A)
January 13, 2023 : Ethiopia vs Mozambique, 20h00 local time – Baraki Stadium, Algiers
January 17, 2023 : Algeria vs Ethiopia, 17h00 local time – Baraki Stadium, Algiers
January 21, 2023 : Libya vs Ethiopia, 20h00 local time – 19 May Stadium, Annaba
Coach
Veteran tactician Wubetu Abate handles both the main national team and the CHAN team and will lead the Ethiopians on the touchline at the tournament in Algeria.
The 44-year old saw his playing career cut short by injury and ventured into coaching in 2007 and clinched his first major trophy in 2011 when he led Ethiopia Coffee to the local Premier League title.
He has primarily coached clubs in Ethiopia and his only stint outside was with Sudanese club Al Ahly Shendy. He was appointed coach of the Ethiopian national team in 2020 on an initial two-year contract and it was extended for a further two when it ended this September.
Players to watch Veteran Getaneh Kebede will be one of the players to watch for Ethiopia in Algeria. Not only is his goalscoring ability a priced asset for his team, but the veteran’s leadership will come in handy. He scored the lone goal that handed Ethiopia their only point at the AFCON in a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso.
Dawa Hottesa is another player to watch out for in the Ethiopian squad especially with his show at the Cup of Nations. Just like Kebede, the 26-year old Adama City forward was also on target in Cameroon, scoring the lone goal in their 4-1 defeat against the hosts.
The much travelled Gatoch Panom will also be a key figure in midfield for Ethiopia. He is one of the most experienced members of the squad, having had stints in Saudi Arabia and Egypt and currently plays for local giants St. George.
History in CHAN
Ethiopia has qualified for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) only twice; in 2014 and 2016. In both occasions, they have bowed out winless in the group stages. They lost all their games against Ghana. Libya and Congo in their debut qualification in 2014.
They slightly improved when they qualified for the 2016 showpiece in Kigali, Rwanda, picking a point from a draw with Cameroon but lost to Angola and eventual champions DR Congo.
History of local football Local Ethiopian clubs have not been dominant on the continent over the years.
St. George and Ethiopia Coffee are two of the biggest clubs from the country, and a meet up between the two, christened the Sheger Derby, always elicits massive emotion in the capital Addis Ababa.
St. George is regarded as one of the most successful, having won the local league title 30 times and are currently the defending champions. Continentally, their best ever performance was a semi-final appearance at the Africa Cup of Champions Clubs in 1967.
In the present day Champions League, their best ever performance was a group stage qualification in the 2017 edition where they finished third in Group C with five points off a win and two draws.
Ethiopia Coffee is another legendary club in Ethiopia, but just as St George, haven’t had as much success on the continent. This year, they were eliminated in the first round of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
Source: Confederation of African Football