Walias will face Lesotho in a friendly match
The Ethiopian national team is set to commence its preparations ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification matches, with Coach Wubetu Abate naming a 28-man squad for upcoming qualification games in the coming weeks.
Ethiopia is in Group D alongside Malawi, Egypt and Guinea. The Walias will play their first qualification match against Malawi on June 5, 2022, at Bingu Stadium in Lilongwe, before facing Egypt on June 9, 2022 in the same stadium, which will act as a neutral stadium for Ethiopia.
Ethiopia will not host Egypt’s national team at home due to a ban imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Bahir Dar stadium did not meet international requirements and standards set, and was deemed unfit to host international matches by the governing body.
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) also announced that the Walias will play a friendly match against Lesotho on May 28 and 31, 2022 at Adama Science Technology University stadium.
Wubetu has included new players to the squad this time around but former national team striker and captain, Getaneh Kebede, has not been included. Getaneh has complained about Wubetu’s decision.
Ethiopian national team squad
Goalkeepers: Fasil Gebremickeal (Bahir Dar City), Bereket Amare (Ethiopia Coffee), Dagim Tefera (Hawasa City), Seid Habtamu (Wolkite City).
Defenders: Asrat Tunja (Ethiopia Coffee), Remdan Yusuf (Wolkite City), Henok Adugna (St. George), Sulieman Hamid (St. George), Birhanu Bekele (Hadiya Hossana), Mignot Dibebe (St. George), Yared Baye (Fasil Kenema), Git Gatkut (Sidama Coffee), Million Solomon (Adama City).
Midfielders: Amanuel Yohannes (Ethiopia Coffee), Gatoch Panom (St. George), Surfael Dagnachew (Fasil Kenema), Bizabeh Milyu (Fasil Kenema), Mesud Mahammed (Jimma Aba Jiffar), Biniyam Belay (Defense), Wondemagegn Hailu ( Hawassa City), Shemiles Bekele (El Gouna FC).
Strikers: Amanuel Gebremickeal (St. George), Chirnet Gugsa (St. George), Dawa Uttessa (Adama City), Bereket Deseta (Fasil Kenema), Abubakir Nassir (Ethiopia Coffee), Yegizu Bogale (Sidama Coffee), Habtamu Tadese (Hadiya Hossana).
