As the 2019 Cecafa Senior challenge cup edges closer, Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has announced that they will not be part of this year’s edition with no official reason communicated.
EFF becomes the second regional football federation to pull out of the regional tournament that shall be hosted by Uganda between 7th-19th December 2019 after Rwanda who through their football ministry sighted lack of the budget that can support them.
EFF announcement now leaves group A with three teams which include the hosts,Burundi and Eritrea.
Though EFF has not given the official reason, facts has it that the football federation is not doing well financially and could not adequacy fund the team.
This announcement puts on hold the anticipated fast ever senior match between Ethiopia and Eritrea since the border war began in 1998. Though diplomatic ties were resumed and good relationship had returned in the area, the two countries had planed for a possible friendly match which did not take place and the chance was now since they were grouped together after all even these two teams did not play each other in the inaugural Cecafa men’s u-15 Championship earlier this year that was hosted by Eritrea though Ethiopia participated.
This brings more questions about the future of this oldest tournament on the continent if countries continue to pull out at will with no strong worming from the regional committee.
EFF shall also not be part of the Cecafa women’s under 17 challenge which is also hosted by Uganda set to kick off 2 days after the men’s senior challenge cup but shall be concluded on the same day.
Ethiopia were meant to play against Uganda on 7th December in the official opening match at 4:30pm after a face off between Burundi and Eritrea earlier in the day.
Current groups
A. Uganda,Burundi,Eritrea
B.Dr Congo,Sudan,S.Sudan,Somalia
C. Kenya,Tanzania,Djibuti,Zanzibar.
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