Ethiopia national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Ethiopia women's national football team.

Ethiopia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)ዋልያዎቹ (The Walia Ibex)
AssociationEthiopian Football Federation (EFF)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCECAFA (East & Central Africa)
Head coachGebremedhin Haile
CaptainGatoch Panom
Most capsLuciano Vassallo (104)
Top scorerLuciano Vassallo (47)
Home stadiumAddis Ababa Stadium
Bahir Dar Stadium
Dire Dawa Stadium
Addis Ababa National Stadium (under construction)
FIFA codeETH
First colours
Second colours
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Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 145 Decrease 2 (19 September 2024)[1]
Highest86 (September 2006[2])
Lowest155 (December 2001[2])
First international
 French Somaliland 0–5 Ethiopia 
(French Somaliland; 5 December 1947)
Biggest win
 Ethiopia 10–2 French Somaliland 
(Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 1 May 1954)[3]
Biggest defeat
 Iraq 13–0 Ethiopia 
(Irbid, Jordan; 18 August 1992)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances11 (first in 1957)
Best resultChampions (1962)
Jordan International Tournament
Appearances1 (first in 1992)
Best resultGroup stage (1992)
This article contains several patronymic names rather than family names. These persons are addressed by their given name, and not by their inherited name.


The Ethiopia national football team (Amharic: የአትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ እግር ኳስ ቡድን), nicknamed Walia, after the Walia ibex, represents Ethiopia in men's international football and is controlled by the Ethiopian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Ethiopia. The team has been representing Ethiopia in regional, continental, and international competitions since its founding in 1943.[5] The Walias play their home games at Addis Ababa Stadium located in the capital city of Addis Ababa.[6] They are currently ranked 150th in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings and 44th in CAF.[2][7]

Ethiopia was one of only three teams (along with Egypt and Sudan) to participate in the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations in 1957. It won the competition in 1962, while it was also the host. However, success has been elusive since the end of the 1960s. Under coach Sewnet Bishaw, the team qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after a 31-year absence.[5]

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Ethiopia". World Football Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Ethiopia Football Federation Information". FIFA. Archived from the original on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Design: Adey Abeba Stadium – StadiumDB.com". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  7. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – African Zone". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2018.