The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has shortlisted five Ethiopian coaches to take the vacant Ethiopian national side head coaching role.
The Waliyas are without a head trainer following Ashenafi Bekele resigned from his post in December 2017. The Federation intensified its effort to bring in a new coach ahead of the 2017 Total African Cup of Nations Qualifier home tie against Sierra Leone in August 2018. EFF has shortlisted Jimma Aba Jifar coach Gebremedhin Haile, Hawassa Ketema coach Webetu Abate, Wolwalo Adigrat University coach Tsegaye Kidanemariam, Mekelakeya coach Seyoum Kebede and Yemen national team coach Abraham Mebratu. The Technic Committee of EFF is expected to screen the listed coaches and present its final decision to the Executive Committee in the coming days.
Gebremedhin has previously worked as the coach of the Ethiopian national side after the dismissal of Yohannis Sahle in 2016. He led the team to victory in two AfCON Qualifier encounters against Lesotho and Seychelles.
Veteran coach Seyoum and Abraham are not new faces in coaching the national side. Seyoum was at the helm some 15 years ago. Abraham, who has led Yemen to a major tournament final in March, has said to be leaving his job as head coach of Yemen, if he can get the Ethiopia job. Abraham never hid his desire to coach Ethiopia.
EFF has neglected foreign coaches for the third time running. Former Kidus Giorgis boss Dutch man Mart Nooji has submitted his CV but could not make it to the final cut.
