Ethiopia were one of just three teams (along with Egypt and Sudan) to participate in the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations in 1957 and they won the 1962 edition as hosts.
Sadly, the former African football pioneers have not appeared at an AFCON finals tournament since 1982.
Ethiopia have had some success in the CECAFA Cup, wining it four times (1987, 2001, 2004 and 2005), but it is merely a minor international competition and the east Africans would love nothing more than a return to the Nations Cup; a tournament they helped get off the ground more than half a century ago.
The Walya Antelopes will be rank outsiders to qualify for Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012 from Group B, as even minnows Madagascar are rated higher in FIFA’s world rankings, never mind Guinea and powerhouses Nigeria.
Ethiopia’s coach is Iffy Onuora, a former professional player born in Scotland of Nigerian descent. He has managerial experience in England from his time with Walsall, Swindon Town, Gillingham and Lincoln City. Onuora signed a one-year contract to coach Ethiopia in June 2010.
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
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