The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has announced the withdrawal of their U-17 boys’ national team from the upcoming TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Zone qualifiers. The tournament, scheduled to take place from December 14 to 27 in Uganda, had originally attracted eight teams following last week’s draw in Kampala.
The decision was communicated on Monday night by Bahiru Tilahun, the Chief Executive Officer of EFF. In his statement, Tilahun expressed regret over the withdrawal, citing financial difficulties as the reason behind the decision.
“On behalf of the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF), I regret to inform you that our U-17 Boys National Team will not be participating in the upcoming AFCON U-17 CECAFA Zone qualification tournament,” Tilahun stated. He further explained, “This decision was reached as a result of unforeseen budgetary constraints. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause and extend our gratitude to CECAFA for your understanding and continued support of Ethiopian football.”
The withdrawal of Ethiopia has altered the dynamics of Group A, which will now consist of three teams: Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. Group B remains unchanged with Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Kenya. The format of the tournament will see the top two teams from each group advance to the semi-final stage, with the finalists earning automatic qualification for the continental championship.
This development comes as a setback for Ethiopia, whose absence will be felt in the competition. However, the remaining teams will aim to capitalize on the opportunity and fight for a place in the prestigious U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
