The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has announced Mesay Teferi as the next head coach of the Ethiopian national side. EFF handed Teferi a one-year contract ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in March.
Teferi was in charge of the Waliyas for their last AFCON and African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers after taking over from Geberemedhin Haile on interim basis. The EFF were previously rumored to be on the lookout for a foreign coach but a lack of funds forced them to shift their focus on a local coach. Teferi, a former Ethiopian youth international, was an assistant to Haile before taking the head trainer role.
Teferi was keen to continue on a permanent basis. Back in December, he stated his desire to coach the national side if given a chance.
The contract might be subject to renewal if Teferi becomes successful with the national team in the World Cup qualifier games. Born in Arbaminch, he famously led Wolayta Dicha to gain Ethiopian Premier League status and also won an Ethiopian Cup in 2017. His record at the national side is mixed but Teferi managed to led his charges to register a notable 2-1 win over DR Congo in Kinshasa.
Teferi will announce his assistants with former Ethiopian Coffee coach Temesgen Dana set to regain his role with the team. Goalkeeper coach Desalegn Gebregiorgis also appears likely to be included in the backroom staff.
Teferi will begin preparing for he and his charges' next assignment in World Cup qualifiers against giants Egypt and Djibouti in March. Ethiopia have a lot of ground to make up in Group A after collecting only three points from four matches, leaving only Djibouti below them.
They are seven points back of group leaders Egypt with six matches to play and three points back of second placed Guinea-Bissau with Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone the other teams in the group.
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