Ethiopia will make their debut at CHAN 2014, which will be held in South Africa at the start of the year.
Walia Antelopes have enjoyed huge success under coach Sewnet Bishaw. Bishaw lead the side from the Horn of Africa to their first African Cup Nations tournament in 31 years earlier this year, the last time the Antelopes qualified for the continental showpiece was in 1982.
As if that was not enough Bishaw, who is an Ethiopian native then guided the Antelopes to CHAN 2014 which like AFCON 2013 will be staged in South Africa before leading them to the last stage round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup which will be staged in Brazil.
The Antelopes piped South Africa to the top of group A and will now face 2013 Afcon Champions Nigeria for a place in next year’s global showpiece. If Ethiopia manage to beat the Super Eagles over two legs, they will successfully qualify for their first ever World Cup tournament.
The squad that is set to take part in CHAN 2014 will largely stay the same to the one that enjoyed success in World Cup qualifiers.
Ethiopia qualified for CHAN 2014 with a one legged win over Eritrea before beating Rwanda in the last round 1-0 in Addis then losing 1-0 in the final leg in Kigali before booking their place with a 6-5 on post match penalty shoot-out victory.
Tournament Review:
After flattering performances at 2013 AFCON where they out-passed their Group D opponents but failed to qualify for the quarterfinals, a lot was expected from Ethiopia twelve months later at 2014 CHAN when they returned to South Africa.
However, the writing was on the wall just a month earlier after struggling at the 2013 Cecafa Cup in Kenya.
Ethiopia struggled against fellow regional heavyweights when they drew 0-0 with Kenya in the group stage and were later eliminated by Sudan in the quarterfinals after losing 2-0 following wins over minnows Zanzibar and South Sudan.
And when they got to South Africa, Ethiopia lost all their three CHAN Group C matches and failed to even score a goal.
It was clear for all to see where the secret formula lay; in its foreign based stars Saladin Said, Shimelis Bekele and Getaneh Kebede.
Ary Papel of Angola wins Orange Man of the Match Award during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Ary Papel of Angola wins Orange Man of the Match Award during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Yared Belay of Ethiopiaclears ball from Jacinto Gelson of Angola during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Tekalign Dejene of Ethiopia wins header against Mingo Bille Zalata of Angola during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Ary Papel of Angola (second from right) celebrates goal with teammates during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Quibeto Manguxi of Angola shields ball from Tesfaye Alebachew of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Tekalign Dejene of Ethiopia wins header against Mingo Bille Zalata of Angola during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Manucho Diniz of Angola evades tackle from Eliyas Mamo of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Asechalew Tamene of Ethiopia tackles Pedro Luvumbo Bua of Angola during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Mingo Bille Zalata of Angola cross ball challenged by Tekalign Dejene of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Asechalew Tamene of Ethiopia tackles Pedro Luvumbo Bua of Angola during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Tesfaye Alebachew of Ethiopia fouls Pedro Luvumbo Bua of Angola during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Manuel 'Ary Papel' Afonso of Angola evades tackle from Tesfaye Alebachew of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN football match between Ethiopia and Angola at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on 25 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Tekalign Dejene of Ethiopia heads ball clear from teammate Deng Ramkel Lok
Stephan Mpondo Kingue of Cameroon battles with Tafesse Shewamene of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Asechalew Tamene of Ethiopia battles with Nicloas Brice Mouumi of Cameroon during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Asrat Gobena of Ethiopia challenged by Carlain Manga Mba of Cameroon during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Gathuoch Panom Yiech of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Behailu Assefa of Ethiopia challenged by Stephan Mpondo Kingue of Cameroon during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Emane Yazid Atouba of Cameroon challenged by Abel Mamo of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Tafesse Shewamene of Ethiopia challenged by Samuel Gouet Oum of Cameroon during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Moussa Souleymanou of Cameroon challenged by Seyoum Tesfaye of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Mohammed Djetei of Cameroon challenged by Mulualem Haile of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Asechalew Tamene of Ethiopia wins header against Samuel Nlend of Cameroon during the 2016 CHAN football match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Aaron Mbimbe of Cameroon wins header against Asrat Gobena of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN football match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Yared Belay of Ethiopia clears ball from Samuel Nlend of Cameroon during the 2016 CHAN football match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Emane Yazid Atouba of Cameroon battles with Eliyas Mamo of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Eliyas Mamo of Ethiopia challenged by Emane Yazid Atouba of Cameroon during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Emane Yazid Atouba of Cameroon tackled by Eliyas Mamo of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 21 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Tafesse Shewamene of Ethiopia tackled by Frank Thierry Boya of Cameroon
Ramkel Lok of Ethiopia challenged by Lomalisa Mutambala of DR Congo during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between DR Congo and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 17 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Sulieman Mohammed of Ethiopia tackled by Doxa Gikanji of DR Congo during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between DR Congo and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 17 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Joel Kimwaki of DR Congo clears the ball Tekalin Dejene of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between DR Congo and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 17 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Ricky Tulenge of DR Congo challenged by Tafesse Shewamene of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between DR Congo and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 17 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Luvumbu Nzinga of DR Congo battles with Behailu Assefa of Ethiopia during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between DR Congo and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 17 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Asechalew Tamene of Ethiopia battles with Jonathan Bolingi of DR Congo during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between DR Congo and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 17 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Tafesse Shewamene of Ethiopia battles with Jonathan Bolingi of DR Congo during the 2016 CHAN Rwanda, match between DR Congo and Ethiopia at the Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda on 17 January 2016 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Morgan Gould of South Africa tussels with Said Ahmed Salahdin of Ethiopia ©Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Steven Pienaar of South Africa tussels with Tekle Hintsa Addis of Thiopia ©Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Ethiopia
