The Ethiopia national football team, also known as Walia, represents Ethiopia in men's international football. The team is controlled by the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) and has been actively participating in regional and international games since 1943. The Walias play their home games at Addis Ababa Stadium, located in the capital city of Addis Ababa.
Early History and Achievements
Ethiopia has a rich history in football, being one of the first African countries to engage in international matches. Their first game was in 1947, resulting in a 5-0 victory against French Somaliland. The Ethiopian Football Federation joined FIFA in 1952, marking a significant step in their international presence.
Ethiopia was among the first three teams to participate in the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations in 1957, where they finished second.
Africa Cup of Nations: Ethiopia 2-0 Uganda | February 1976
Participation in Major Tournaments
Ethiopia has participated in the Africa Cup of Nations several times. In the 1963 edition, they finished fourth, losing the third-place game to the United Arab Republic. The 1965 tournament was less successful for Ethiopia. In 1968, Ethiopia hosted the tournament again and finished fourth after losing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the semi-finals. However, in 1970, the team faced a tough tournament, finishing last in their group. Hosting the Nations Cup again in 1976, they did not advance to the final four teams and also missed the 1980 edition.
FIFA World Cup Qualification Attempts
Ethiopia has made numerous attempts to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. In 1959, they tried to qualify for the 1962 FIFA World Cup for the first time. In the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Ethiopia reached the third round, marking their best performance in World Cup qualification.
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CECAFA Cup Success
The CECAFA Cup is a regional football tournament where Ethiopia has seen success. In the 2001 CECAFA Cup, Ethiopia won the championship, defeating Kenya 2-1 in the final game. They also won the tournament in 2004, beating Burundi 3-0 in the final match, leading to celebrations in Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian team continued their success by winning the CECAFA Cup in 2005.
However, their performance in subsequent CECAFA Cups declined. In 2006, they lost to Zambia in the quarterfinals. At the 2010 CECAFA Cup, Ethiopia reached the semi-finals.
Challenges and Recovery
In 2008, the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) faced a suspension by FIFA due to administrative issues. This suspension resulted in Ethiopia's removal from the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. However, in July 2009, FIFA lifted the suspension after the federation elected new leaders.
Recent Developments
In 2011, the national coach Iffy Onuora was dismissed. Ethiopia qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after 31 years, winning their qualification matches based on the away goals rule. Ethiopia also qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The team has had different kit providers over the years, and many coaches have led the Ethiopian team.
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Team Records
Here are some records for the Ethiopian national football team.
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