The steady rise of Ethiopian women’s football

One of the many highlights of the summer football scene has been the 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), held in Morocco alongside the UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland. While the Club World Cup sparked debate and backlash among the media and fans, the women’s tournaments generated genuine excitement and anticipation. 

Her game became a unifying theme across both events, championing women’s football and increasing audience interest. 

While Nigeria’s Super Falcons were once again crowned champions of WAFCON, Ethiopia was unable to participate in the competition and instead had to watch from the sidelines. 

Lucy—as the national women’s team is known—has yet to qualify for the tournament since the current league structure was introduced, often falling short by narrow margins. In the previous qualifier, the team failed to overcome Burundi at the final hurdle. 

Now, the Ethiopian team faces a two-legged tie against Tanzania in October, standing just 180 minutes away from securing a place in the next edition of WAFCON, scheduled for March 2026. 

Coach Yosef Gebrewold, promoted from his previous U-20 role, now leads the Ethiopian squad with the weight of national expectation behind him. The Ethiopian Football Federation has made WAFCON qualification one of the key conditions for his continued tenure. 

Before Ethiopia had a professional women’s football structure, there were significant barriers to participation—especially for girls who simply wanted to play the game. 

Dr Endegenalem Awaso is one of the foremost names in the history of Ethiopian women’s football. She developed her passion for the game at a time when girls were not socially permitted to play like their male peers. A true trailblazer, she later went on to become a dentist. 

Another pioneer is Eyerusalem Negash. A successful defender and the first captain of the Ethiopian women’s national team, Eyerusalem started playing football at the age of 15, alongside young boys in her neighbourhood. 

In a 2020 interview with Soccer Ethiopia, she recalled that the first national team had more than 30 players, with the squad staying together for six months. The first game was supposed to be against Swaziland, but was ultimately forfeited. In the interview, Eyerusalem recounted how they cried every time a team member was sent home as the squad was being trimmed. 

“A girl playing football was accepted by society and eventually became the norm due to the persistence of coaches and players,” stated veteran footballer Birtukan Gebrekristos. 

Speaking to Geeska, she noted that women's football is in a much better place today: “There are many clubs and academies. Some players are playing abroad. There are regional and neighbourhood pilot projects. But I can’t say this is enough, and I hope there will be better days in the future,” she added. 

Names like Loza Abera and Selam Zeray have proudly flown the Ethiopian flag high on the international stage. Selam is now a CAF elite instructor and the head coach of the Liberian women’s football team, making her one of the most successful coaches in the women’s game. 

Loza, widely regarded as one of Ethiopia's top footballers, currently plays for DC Power in the United States. She has previously played in Malta and has shone for both club and country on numerous occasions. 

The growth of Ethiopian women’s football reflects a global trend. A report by Nielsen Sports, in collaboration with PepsiCo, projected that women’s football is set to become one of the world’s top five sports by 2030, with its global fanbase expected to grow by 38%. 

After years of stagnant growth and many challenges, women's football in Ethiopia finally appears to also be gaining momentum. One indicator of this shift is the growing attention from the football federation. 

Bahiru Tilahun, CEO of the Ethiopian Football Federation, has said that their communications department is working extensively to ensure the women’s game receives the recognition it deserves. 

This season, the federation unveiled a new trophy for the Ethiopian Women’s Premier League, which was widely praised by spectators and fans alike. 

Weighing 5.8 kg and measuring 40 cm in diameter, the trophy is made from bronze and features a movable base. “The concept of the trophy came entirely from within the Ethiopian Football Federation,” said Bahiru, thanking Communications Director Abrahama Gebremariam for bringing the idea to life. 

The design was executed by Henok Craft Company and celebrates Ethiopian culture. At its centre, it represents the Sefed (Amharic: ሰፌድ), a traditional basket handmade using dyed grass straws and palm leaves. Often decorated with cowries, the Sefed is used to serve injera, the Ethiopian dish typically eaten with vegetables or meat. 

The trophy’s edges feature motifs inspired by traditional decorations from eastern Ethiopian communities. 

The Ethiopian Football Federation also created new designs for the men’s Premier League and Ethiopian Cup trophies—but it was the women’s trophy that garnered the most praise on social media, with fans describing it as beautiful, thoughtful, and rich in symbolism. 

“The trophy represents tradition and pays homage to our mothers,” stated Birhanu Gizaw, who has led Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC to five consecutive Premier League titles. His team was the first to lift the newly unveiled trophy at the end of the season. 

Birhanu said that the lifting ceremony felt more meaningful than the victory itself, as it reflected the increased attention being paid to the women’s game. 

“Previously, we would just find a trophy in the market, and that was it,” he said. 

The federation is also producing more content across its platforms to promote women’s football and has partnered with the insurance company Ethiopia Medin through a 10 million birr annual sponsorship deal. 

Having broken barriers and carved out their own space in the game, the natural next step for the national women’s team is continental participation. The men’s national team qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2021. While they did not progress beyond the group stage, simply qualifying brought joy to fans across the country. 

Whether the women’s team will achieve a similar feat—especially amid the current political and economic upheaval in the country—remains to be seen.