The multiple times CECAFA champion Ethiopian national football team is out of this year’s tournament very early, after tying with the Sudanese team.


Both a loss and a draw was enough to eliminate the Ethiopian team and after a long fight, and despite star Fikru Tefera's call up, Ethiopia couldn’t produce a goal. 

Meanwhile, both Sudan and Eritrea managed to pass to the next round. Sudan faces Tanzania and Eritrea faces Burundi to qualify for the final four. Sudan hopes to win the cup for its third time in history, while Eritrea attempts to get its first cup.


Being kicked out of the tournament early, the young and inexperienced Ethiopian squad faces a more uncertain future. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Premier League is going to start-off after adding eight new clubs including Finchaa Sugar and Bahir Dar University. Rifts and various inside issues have reportedly frustrated the Ethiopian Football Federation. 

Ethiopia has won the CECAFA cup four times in history, triumphing most recently in 2001, 2004 and 2005.