NEWS
Ethiopian Football Federation part ways with head coach Wubetu
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has parted ways with head coach Wubetu Abate.
EFF announced today that following Abate’s resignation later submitted last week, they have agreed to part ways with the coach by mutual consent.
“Following the decision of the EFF executive committee to accept the resignation, the contract has been terminated by mutual consent,” said the communication by the Federation.
Abate was appointed coach of Ethiopia’s national team in September 2020 after the Federation opted not to renew the contract of former coach Abraham Mebratu.
“ I sincerely thank you for the contributions you have made to our country as head coach of the Ethiopian Senior men national team. I wish you all the best,” said the EFF General Secretary Bahiru Tilahun.
The experienced Abate was also head coach for the national team when it failed to make it out of the group stage at the recent 2022 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) held in Algeria.
In the on-going 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers under the guidance of Abate Ethiopia is bottom of Group D after four matches with 3 points after their famous 2-0 win against Egypt. But the Ethiopian team has only picked one win and lost three matches.
Abate, a former player, managed numerous domestic sides, including Adama City, Ethiopian Coffee, Dedebit, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Hawassa City, Fasil Kenema, and Sebeta Town FC. He also had a brief stint at Sudanese Premier League side, Al Ahli Shendi. He led Ethiopian Coffee to their first ever major trophy in a decade back in 2011. He also won the 2019 Ethiopian Cup with Fasil Kenema.
The Walias of Ethiopia are expected to have a new coach when they tour the United States of America in July this year.
Uganda have defeated Djibouti 4-1 in the opening match of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
Isima Magala gave the Ugandan team the lead after only five minutes on Tuesday at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
After 23 minutes substitute Ishak Tahir leveled matters for the Djibouti team. Tahir made no mistake beating the Ugandan goalkeeper Adrian Isabirye.
The Ugandan team lef by captain Ricahrd Okello continued to attack in numbers, but failed to convert. At the stroke of halftime Genesis Ocen Odiya restored Uganda’s lead.
In the second half Uganda returned with more purpose and pushed deep into the Djibouti half. Okello got his name on the score sheet for Uganda after 60 minutes, and Magala netted his second of the day to make it 4-1.
The Djibouti team tried to shoot from outside the box, but failed to find the target for more goals. The win sends Uganda top of Group B before they face Sudan in the last match of the prelimnary stage.
Laryea Kingston, the Uganda coach said although they missed several scoring opportunities, it is good they managed to collect a win in the first match. “We take every match as it comes and work hard to get a win,” added the coach.
His counterpart Abdirahman Ali Abubakar said his team had started well, but failed to defend better.
The second match will see South Sudan face Burundi in a Group C, while hosts Tanzania face Rwanda in a Group A encounter.
Group B standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uganda 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 3
Sudan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Djibouti 1 0 0 1 1 4 -3 0
Three matches are on card as the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers kick-off at the Uhuru Stadium on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
In a Group B battle, Uganda will take on Djibouti in the opening match of the competition.
Layrea Kingston, the Uganda head coach has made it clear that every match in the tournament will be very important because their target is qualification for U-20 AFCON.
“We shall treat the opening match with a lot of seriousness and caution because it will determine the kind of momentum we shall set in the competition,” said Kingston.
The second match will see South Sudan face Burundi in a Group C. John Alier, the South Sudan head coach has also made it clear that they need to work hard and make it through the group to the knock out stage.
“We need to go out and try to win all out group matches because we are targeting qualification for U-20 AFCON,” added the coach.
The third match of the day will see the hosts Tanzania tussle it out against Rwanda in a Group A encounter. The Ngorongoro Heroes are the defending champions in the Zone having lifted the trophy in 2024.
Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Manager of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has made it clear that they expect a very competitive event. “All the teams have arrived in Dar es salaam and we expect a good competition,” added Mossi.
The semi-final matches will be played September 22nd with Group B winners facing the best second placed team, and Group A winners taking on Group C winners.
The play-off and final will be played on September 24th. The finalists will qualify for the U-20 AFCON 2027.
Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC have advanced to the second preliminary sage of the 2026/2027 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Simba SC thrashed Mighty Wanderers FC 6-1 in the second leg of the first preliminary round played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
Clatous Chota Chama and Libasse Gueye scored a brace each, while Matiala Keletso Makgalwa and Morice Michael Abraham also had their names on the score sheet for Simba SC. Clement Nyondo netted the only goal for the Malawi Premier League side.
Simba will now face the winner between 15 de Agusto and Fumboni FC.
Another Tanzanian side Young Africans SC struggled to collect a 2-1 win against Gaborone United FC in a match played on Saturday at the Azam Complex.
Young Africans who advanced on a 3-2 goal aggregate will next face CFFA from Madagascar in the second preliminary round in October.
After drawing goalless in the first leg Sidama Bunna from Ethiopia defeated Aiglons 3-0 on Sunday. The Ethiopian side will now face Sudan’s Al Hilal SC in the second preliminary round in a battle of CECAFA teams.
On Sunday CECAFA teams KVZ FC (Zanzibar), Vipers SC (Uganda) and Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC all failed to advance to the next stage of the competition.
Al Merrikh (Sudan) who ejected Zambia’s Power Dynamos 2-0 on aggregate will now face Horoya AC in the next stage,
Rwanda’s APR FC who saw off DR Congo’s Les Algles du Congo 3-1 on aggregate will now face Zamalek FC. The Egypt side ejected AS Port (Djibouti) 6-1 on goal aggregate.
South Sudan’s El Merriekh SC Bentiu who saw off Heegan FC (Somalia) 4-0 on goal aggregate will now face Pyramids in the next round.
In other matches played on Sunday, KVZ FC suffered a 3-0 defeat at home in Zanzibar, while Pyramids FC humbled Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) 5-1 to qualify on a 7-1 goal aggregate. Vipers SC who had managed a 1-1 draw in Kampala bowed out after the return leg ended goalless against FC Nouadhibou in Mauritania.
Second preliminary round fixtures for CECAFA teams
CFFA vs Young Africans SC
APR FC vs Zamalek FC
El Merriekh SC Bentiu vs Pyramids FC
Sidama Bunna vs Al Hilal SC
Horoya AC vs Al Merrikh
Kenya’s Tusker FC have progressed to the next round of the 2026/2027 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg against Al Ahli Madani (Sudan), Tusker FC managed to pick a 1-0 win in the return leg played at the Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
Chrispin Erambo netted the lone goal in the second half to guide the Brewers to the next stage of the competition where they will face 2025 CECAFA Kagame Cup winners Singida Black Stars FC.
The Tanzanian stopped Al Ghazala FC (South Sudan) 3-0 in the return leg played on Sunday to sail through 10-1 on goal aggregate.
Kitara FC, Uganda’s Premier League side also defeated Mogadishu City Club 2-0 in the return leg played at the new Hoima City Stadium on Saturday. Jimmy Kalema and Frank Tumwesigye to ensure Kitara FC qualified on a 4-1 goal aggregate. They will next face African giants Al Ahly from Egypt in the next round in October.
Rwanda’s Rayon Sports FC who needed a lone goal to see off Panthere FC (Cameroon) 1-0 on Saturday will now face Black Bulls FC from Mozambique in the second preliminary round.
Welwalo Adigrat FC from Ethiopia who edged Al Hilal Alsahil 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw on aggregate will now face Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli.
Tanzania’s Azam FC who start their campaign in the second preliminary round will face ZED FC. The Egyptian side eliminated ASAS from Djibouti 5-1 on aggregate.
Second preliminary round fixtures for CECAFA teams
Kitara FC vs Al Ahly
ZED FC vs Azam FC
Welwalo Adigrat FC vs Al Ahly Tripoli
Tusker FC vs Singida Black Stars FC
Rayon Sports FC vs Black Bulls FC
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