CECAFA U-17 Marks Ethiopia’s Return to Big-Stage Football

The CECAFA U-17 tournament kicked off in Ethiopia on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Ten countries, including the hosts, are part of the competition: Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan, and Burundi.

Ethiopia has held ambitions of hosting continental and international sports tournaments in recent years. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has given due attention to establishing modern sports grounds across Addis Ababa and throughout the country. There has also been accelerated work to build new stadiums and renovate old ones.

Addis Ababa Stadium finally reopened to host Ethiopian Premier League games after five years of reconstruction. Construction on Adey Abeba Stadium resumed after years of delays, with administrative issues now resolved. Bahir Dar Stadium has undergone a makeover, and officials believe it will soon be able to meet both CAF and FIFA standards.

These projects are welcome news for a country whose national team has played home matches abroad for the past few years — costing the Ethiopian Football Federation millions. Fans have also missed supporting their national team on home soil with their vibrant and colorful presence. Ethiopia is now determined not only to bring the national team back home but also to return major continental tournaments to the country.

Ethiopia’s main target is hosting the AFCON tournament in 2029. Following the joint 2027 tournament to be hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, Ethiopia aims to keep the venue in East Africa. While the region is better known for athletics than football, the countries appear determined to shift that narrative. Ethiopia is part of that ambition and hopes to showcase the various development projects underway in recent years.

The country previously hosted AFCON three times — in 1962, 1968, and 1962- and it now wishes to bring Africa’s elite competition back to the “capital of Africa” after 53 years. A major part of this effort has been investing in youth football and nurturing the talents of tomorrow.

The Ethiopian Football Federation, together with the Ministry of Culture and Sport, has worked to host the CECAFA U-17 tournament. This competition serves as a qualifier for the U-17 AFCON, which will determine the African teams that advance to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

In the pre-tournament press conference, Deputy Minister of Sport Mekiyou Mohammed explained that discussions with the Ethiopian Football Federation had been ongoing for some time, and that “Ethiopia was eventually chosen as host.”

He emphasized that the decision was not just symbolic. Hosting the tournament, he said, is beneficial for tourism, but also serves as a statement — “showing that Ethiopia is capable of holding international events, as directed by the government.”

For him, the significance goes deeper. The country’s football has struggled in recent years, and he argued that this tournament could serve as a turning point: “This will help awaken Ethiopian football from the challenges it has been going through.”

The two institutions have not only prepared the venue but also worked closely to build a strong U-17 national team. The project was named “Road to 2029” by the Federation. Several tournaments were held to identify the right players, followed by a rigorous training camp.

“Road to 2029 has been in effect, and young players were recruited to form a strong team. The competition will serve as a qualifier for U-17 AFCON, and the players participating here will also have the opportunity to represent Ethiopia at senior level,” Mekiyou added.

Ethiopian U-17 head coach Benjamin Ziemer stressed that both the Federation and the Ministry are committed to building a genuinely competitive team. “Ethiopia is a nation of football lovers,” he said, arguing that the country deserves a higher standard of play.

Ziemer described the intensity of the preparation — sometimes working from morning until midnight — and noted that the talent pool is stronger than many assume. “There are many talented players here who can go far,” he said.

For him, the philosophy is simple: “Our main target is to play good football. If we play good football, the results will follow.”

Amsalu Tilahun, the AAssocite Technical Director who oversees youth development, said the aim has always been inclusivity in selection. “We want to give opportunities to every talented player,” he noted.

He also acknowledged the limitations they faced — especially the shortage of match footage — but said the staff worked around it. “We prepared with what we had,” he added.

Ethiopia began the tournament with a 2–0 win over Rwanda on opening day. Fans turned out in large numbers to support the team, and media coverage increased significantly.

“A good start is always important. The players were nervous at first but grew more confident as the game went on.” said EFF scout David Beshah “I’ve seen real development in this team — this level of team spirit and passion is something I haven’t seen in years.” He added, and praised the for doing a remarkable job and “forming a team in such a short period,”

Ethiopia followed up with a 4–1 win over South Sudan on match day two. Dawit Kassaw scored a hat-trick, including a brilliant volley that drew admiration from spectators. It appears Ethiopia may finally be finding answers to its long-standing challenges in youth football.

One of the biggest issues over the years has been the prevalence of overage players. However, the Federation’s medical department now ensures that every player undergoes mandatory MRI testing before selection for any youth tournament.

The leadership around Ethiopian football views the tournament as an opportunity to show the world what the country is capable of. With matches broadcast on the Federation’s YouTube channel and on TV via Fana Media Corporation and Dire TV, viewers can see how the competition is being staged and how the teams are performing.