Ethiopia’s national team, nicknamed ‘The Wayla Antelopes’ can be regarded as a fallen power of African football. Though they have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, they were among the pioneers of international football on the continent, participating in the inaugural CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1957 and winning the 1962 tournament on home soil.
Since then, however, Ethiopia have slipped to become one of the continent’s weakest sides. They last qualified for the Nations Cup in 1982, though they have at least won the CECAFA Cup four times, with the latest triumph in that competition coming in 2005.
The Wayla Antelopes are coached by Abraham Teklehaymanot and play their home games at the 35,000 capacity Addis Abeba Stadium. The majority of their present squad is locally-based, though Fikru Tefera has had success in South African football with Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United and has now moved onto Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic.
The country’s top flight domestic football division is the Ethiopian Premier League. The reigning champions are Saint-George, who have won a record 23 titles (12 more than nearest challengers Mechal) and made a semifinal appearance in the CAF Champions League back in 1967.
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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