Walias Fly to Kigali Amid Fading Hopes of Advancement

The Ethiopian national team has flown to Kigali, Rwanda for its ninth World Cup qualifier against Guinea Bissau.

The one-time AFCON winners are already out of the 2026 World Cup race after eight matches with four losses, three draws and one win.

The team held a one-week local camp in Addis Ababa under head coach Mesay Teferi. Due to budget limits the coach called up only 20 players as he explained in today’s press conference. During preparation key players Abubeker Nura and Yared Kassaye were ruled out with injuries they picked up while representing Ethiopia Medhin in the CAF Champions League. Firew Getahun and Abduselam Yusef joined the squad to replace them.

Coach Mesay said the team tried to prepare well to collect more points and finish in the best position possible even though they have no hope of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Ethiopia will face Guinea Bissau on October 8 at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali since the country still lacks a CAF approved home venue. The Walias will then travel to Ouagadougou for their final group match against Burkina Faso on October 12.

Ethiopian Premier League

1
Round 1
18 Oct 2025 13:00
ELE
1
0
SHG
18 Oct 2025 15:00
WAU
1
4
SID
18 Oct 2025 16:00
ARS
1
1
AMK
18 Oct 2025 18:00
DIR
0
2
HAW
19 Oct 2025 15:00
FSK
1
1
CBE
19 Oct 2025 15:00
BUN
0
1
KDG
19 Oct 2025 18:00
MEC
1
0
WOD
20 Oct 2025 13:00
ADA
0
0
EIC
20 Oct 2025 16:00
SHI
1
0
MEK
20 Oct 2025 16:00
BDR
3
1
HOS

Standing Table

#
Club
P
W
D
L
Pt
1
1
1
0
0
3
2
1
1
0
0
3
3
1
1
0
0
3
4
1
1
0
0
3
5
1
1
0
0
3
6
1
1
0
0
3
7
1
1
0
0
3
8
1
0
1
0
1
9
1
0
1
0
1
10
1
0
1
0
1
11
1
0
1
0
1
12
1
0
1
0
1
13
1
0
1
0
1
14
1
0
0
1
0
15
1
0
0
1
0
16
1
0
0
1
0
17
1
0
0
1
0
18
1
0
0
1
0
19
1
0
0
1
0
20
1
0
0
1
0

Top scorers chart

#
Player
Played
Goals
1
Kidus Giorgis
1
1
2
Mechal
0
1
3
Sidama Bunna
1
1
4
Ethiopia Nigd Bank
1
1
5
Hawassa Ketema
1
1
6
Arba Minch Ketema
1
1
7
Wolwalo Adigrat University
1
1
8
Hawassa Ketema
1
1
9
Ethio Electric
1
1
10
Negelle Arsi
1
1
11
Sidama Bunna
1
1
12
Fasil Kenema
1
1
13
Sidama Bunna
1
1
14
Wolaitta Dicha
0
0
15
Fasil Kenema
0
0

2024/25 Competitions

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Ethiopian Premier League
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Ethiopian Womens Premier League