Scouts fan out across villages, districts and schools searching for and recruiting promising young players. They strive to mold the footballers of tomorrow by immersing recruits in intensive football training from an early age.

Most football clubs around the world develop their academy system to cultivate players who can eventually break into the first team. Often clubs recruit boys ages 7 to 16 to join their academy programs aimed at building fundamental football skills and hopefully, form the foundation of future national teams.

Players progress through age-based categories, refining their technique and conditioning in hopes of one day joining the senior ranks.

National teams likewise maintain under-15, under-17 and under-20 squads to unearth replacements and ready them for international competition.

Academies play a leading role in identifying and developing players who may one day represent their country. Several national federations carefully groom youth prospects for roughly four years prior to each World Cup cycle.

The German national team for instance had been priming young talents since 2010 for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. By assembling academy graduates and top club players in regular training camps, Die Mannschaft was optimally prepared to win the tournament on home soil.

In Africa, Senegal’s secret to consistently qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations lies in combining homegrown academy products with players polished in European developmental systems.

Various national teams now unveil eight-year development schemes focused on scouting teenagers and building match-readiness over consecutive qualification cycles.

 But what is Ethiopia doing to cultivate homegrown talent?

At a recent Dire Dawa Cup match played on an artificial surface, Ethiopia’s successor national team defeated Uganda’s 1-0. Notably, the Ethiopian Football Federation prominently featured many players earning their first call-ups. If sustained, such initiatives could reap rewards for the Walia’s in the years ahead.

The team led by Coach Gebremedin Haile called up 30 players for the match in Dire Dawa. Those called up played in the country’s Premier League and Higher League. Although most earned their first international call-ups, some players noted they were brought in suddenly without being part of a long-term developmental program as the Federation claimed.

Experts say for a team to truly be considered a “shadow side” replacing the senior national team, it must focus on grooming youth over several years.

Football journalist Daniel Mesfen expressed doubts about the planning and vision, saying such a developmental squad should start with 15-year-olds and remain together long-term.

Unfortunately in Ethiopia, teams are often assembled just for single tournaments rather than cultivated as ongoing projects, Daniel claims. This makes it hard to produce succession for veterans. The lack of goalkeeping and striking depth has hurt tournament results. Some players from the recent qualifiersfor the Africa Cup of Nations appearance areexpected to head into the next edition without understudies in place.

While Ethiopia’s victory over Uganda in Dire Dawa showed promise, critics argue the team should not disband so hastily and instead transition players into the senior pool.

Uganda’s own “shadow side” has been cultivating youth since the under-17 level for upcoming tournaments, according to Uganda’s national team.

Going forward, the Ethiopian Federation, experts say, must devise a pathway for Dire Dawa Cup participants to eventually replace established internationals, with plans to blood emerging talent gradually in qualifying matches.

Coach Gebremedin will hope to incorporate some debutants when qualifiers for the AFCON tournament in Morocco begins in March.

With continuity and foresight, Ethiopia can develop players ready to fill any gaps down the road.

Newly appointed coach Gebremedin Haile has selected a 30-player squad to represent Ethiopia’s hopes at the competition.

The Ethiopian Football Federationhas now assembled the team to commence regular training ahead of the tournament.

Along with Ethiopia, the national sides from Kenya, Djibouti and Rwanda will also participate in the tournament. The four-nation event will offer these teams a chance to benchmark themselves and could serve as an audition for some players ahead of future international fixtures. It also provides an opportunity to evaluate the upgrades to Dire Dawa’s stadium.

Experts recognized by FIFA deemed the pitch comparable to those used in the UEFA Champions League, though some work remains to fully comply with FIFA and CAF requirements. While grass installation is complete, facilities like dressing rooms, VIP areas, media center, restrooms and 20,000-seat spectator seating have been finished. The stadium is also equipped with elevators, and bench seating for substitutes is under construction.

Domestically, the first half of the season ended at Adama Science and Technology University Stadium. Beginning February 21st, the second half of league play is scheduled to relocate to the refurbished Dire Dawa venue.

In other football news, the preliminary round draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in Morocco has been announced. A total of 52 nations will contest qualifying for the continental tournament.

The initial stage will feature the eight lowest FIFA-ranked sides in home-and-away knockout format; the four winners will join 44 other teams in the group phase.

The fixtures for the qualifiers are scheduled during the next international window from March 20-26, 2024. Ethiopia have been placed in Group H alongside Nigeria, Gabon, Libya and Liberia.

According to statements from Gofere founder Samuel Mekonon, the partnership aims higher than typical promotional arrangements.

In a joint statement, Gofere founder Samuel Mekonon said the agreement focuses on youth development initiatives, distinguishing it from typical celebrity endorsements. Samuel emphasized Gofere’s history of supporting training programs and said this deal continues that mission. The announcement was delayed by a few months as Abraham fulfilled duties with African governing bodies.

Abrahamstated that the role goes beyond marketing. Central to the terms is ensuring equal access to football for all genders through the Ethiopian Football Federation’s pilot programs.

As one of the leading suppliers of team kits, Gofere equips numerous clubs and athletics teams in Ethiopia and has also provided gear in regional markets.

Abraham, a former coach of Ethiopia’s national team and Bahir Dar City FC, holds esteemed credentials as a Confederation of African Football elite instructor recognized by FIFA. With 211 member nations, football’s global body considers experts’ contributions when selecting professionals.

In his role, Abrahamis responsiblefor developing training curriculums for technical directors and instructors, advise nations on development initiatives, monitor programs, and prepare documents for FIFA’s new development program. He also serves as a technical expert at continental championships.

Just weeks away from the World Athletics Indoor Championships, many athletes are competing in qualifying events on the World Athletics Indoor Tour. This tour serves as an opportunity for athletes to earn spots at the upcoming championships.

The biennial World Athletics Indoor Championships represent the pinnacle competition for indoor track and field. First held in 1985, the event crowns global champions in this discipline.

Ethiopia first participated in 1989 after sitting out the initial two championships. The national team competed for three straight editions but left empty-handed each time.

However, at the 1997 Paris event, Haile Gebrselassie won Ethiopia’s first gold in the 3000 meters, lifting the country to 10th in the medal table. In the next championship held in Japan, Haile captured two more golds in the 1500 and 3000, while Million Wolde took bronze in the 3000. This gave Ethiopia sixth place overall with two golds and a bronze.

At the 2003 Birmingham championships, Ethiopia advanced to fifth place. There, Haile defended his 3000 title as BirhaneAdere and MeseretDefar won gold and silver respectively in the women’s 3000.

Notable Ethiopian medalists in recent editions include GenzebeDibaba, who swept the women’s 1500 and 3000 golds twice from 2012-2018. Haile also won three gold medals in the 3000 meter and one in the 1500 meter distance. Meseret has an unmatched four golds, one silver and one bronze in the women’s 3000 meter event.

Ethiopian athletes also hold records from the event. At the 1997 event, Haile ran 7:34:71 in the men’s 3000. In Belgrade, Samuel Tefera set the 1500 record at 3:32:77. GudafTsegai established the women’s 1500 mark of 3:57:19 there as well.

Ethiopia enjoyed its most successfulWorld Indoor Championships in Belgradeyet, topping the medal table with an unprecedented haul of four golds, three silvers and two bronzes for a total of nine medals. The impressive performance saw Ethiopia claim number one in the world medal rankings at that time.

Athletes like DerbeWolteji, FreweiniHailu, GudafTsegai, LemlemHailu, and HirutShesha are waiting to compete at this year’s World Athletics Indoor Championships. While male stars LemechaGirma and Samuel Tefera are expected to lead the men’s team, Ethiopia may face gaps in male events.

Indoor meets across Europe are serving as qualifiers, where Ethiopia’s national team will be selected. The Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) is anticipated to announce its roster soon.

Originally launched in 1985 as the World Indoor Games, it was renamed the IAAF World Indoor Championships in 1987 before adopting its current title in 2019.

As indoor racing allows athletes to sharpen speed and endurance, anticipation is high for the 2024 edition scheduled for March 1-3 in Glasgow, Scotland. The city is no stranger to major sporting events, having hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games with great success.

Competing will be over 700 athletes from more than 130 countries vying for 26 total medals across 13 men’s and 13 women’s events. Emirates Arena, built in 2012 to accommodate top competitions, will serve as the 5,500-seat venue. It has hosted major meets like the 2019 European Indoors as well as gymnastics and badminton.

Côte d’Ivoire national team’s remarkable performance on home soil at the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) resulted in a ten place climb to 39th in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, underscoring their impressive tournament showing.

Released just four days after the conclusion of the AFCON, the new rankings highlight significant movements among several African sides that took part in the competition. While the top 10 positions remained unchanged, numerous Confederation of African Football (CAF) region teams made noteworthy advances.

Nigeria, the AFCON runners-up, surged 14 places to 28th, exhibiting their strong play throughout the tournament.

However, it was Angola that registered the biggest leap, climbing 24 spots to 93rd after impressing with their run in the competition.

Senegal matched their highest ever FIFA position of 17th, despite exiting in the round of 16 against Côte d’Ivoire.

Other African nations that saw notable ranking improvements include Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cape Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).

As the latest FIFA rankings underscore, recent continental championships carry significant impacts on the global football landscape, with African and Asian teams notably progressing. With future qualifying competitions for the AFCON and World Cup looming, the new standings provide valuable context on international placement going forward.

The next FIFA men’s world ranking is scheduled for April 4th, set to deliver further updates on the constantly evolving state of the beautiful game across football’s regions.

Côte d’Ivoire punched their ticket to the final in front of a boisterous home crowd, claiming a 1-0 victory over Democratic Republic of Congo behind Sebastien Haller’s winning goal. The striker’s performance marked a comeback for the Elephants, who were doubted despite hosting the tournament.

Nigeria joined them after prevailing 4-2 in a penalty shootout against South Africa in their semifinal. With three AFCON titles since 2013, the Super Eagles now have their sights set on a fourth, though Côte d’Ivoire stands in their way of continental glory.

When these powerhouses last met in the group stage, Nigeria secured a narrow 1-0 win. However, Côte d’Ivoire will be fighting for redemption on home soil in Sunday’s final.

Securing a third AFCON championship poses the biggest test yet for Nigeria and manager José Péseiro, while Côte d’Ivoire’s Emerse Fae will look to outfox his opponent.

On the pitch, Africa’s brightest stars take center stage under Abidjan’s night lights. Côte d’Ivoire can unleash Nicolas Pépé and Haller, as Nigeria counter with Victor Osimhen and commanding center-back William Troost-Ekong.

Regardless of the result, African football emerges as the clear victor from this showdown of heavyweights.

In addition to the gripping spectacle, this year’s AFCON has featured several noteworthy events. Bouchra Karboubi, an international referee from North Africa, has captured the attention of football fans as the first North African woman to officiate in the tournament. Following in the footsteps of Rwandan referee Salima Mukansenga, Bouchra has made history by officiating one of the largest competitions in Africa.

She also become the first Arab female referee in the AFCON. Expressing her happiness and pride in representing Moroccan and Arab women, the 36-year-old referee, who also serves as a police officer, credits her regular job for enhancing her skills as a referee.

Bouchra commends CAF for their efforts in promoting women referees in such prestigious competitions.

South Africa’s goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, has also left a lasting impression on the minds of AFCON fans. With four penalty saves in the team’s match against Cape Verde and leading the team as captain, Williams played a crucial role in their journey to the semi-finals.

However, South Africa was ultimately defeated by Nigeria in a penalty shootout during the quarterfinals.

Congo DR will compete against South Africa in the third-place playoff match scheduled for Saturday.

Reigning world indoor 3000m record holder Lamecha Girma returns to compete in Lievin. He’ll take on the 2000m event following his staggering 7:23.81 record last year. That wasn’t the end of his 2022 success – Lamecha also set a world steeplechase best and an Ethiopian 1500m record (3:29.51), underlining his range.

Lamecha began his season in top form, winning the 2000m at Boston in a new meeting record of 7:29.09. Intriguingly, his 2000m split (4:58.44) matched his 3000m world record pace (4:58.38), suggesting maintained peak conditioning. All signs point to another spectacular Lamecha performance.

With their remarkable speed and endurance, Lamecha, Solomon and Wale have cemented themselves as athletics favorites.

The World Athletics Indoor Championships, set for March 1-3 in Glasgow, also promises to showcase Ethiopia’s dominance over middle distances.

As the date nears, anticipation is building for an explosive exhibition of athletic prowess from these three giants of the track. Fans worldwide eagerly await their clash and the records that could fall. Ethiopia’s presence is sure to captivate globally as the stars etch themselves further into history.

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation is preparing to unveil the roster heading to Glasgow’s Indoor Championships, the 19th edition of the prestigious meet.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is in full swing in Ivory Coast, and the quarterfinal matches have unleashed a whirlwind of unexpected outcomes. Highly rated national teams bid farewell in the early round of fixtures, leaving football fans in awe. Five of the top rated teams in the continent all were knocked out.

Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco, and Senegal have all packed their bags and headed home, while the underdogs seized their chance and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Cape Verde, Mali, South Africa, and Angola have all made it this far, defying all odds.

This year’s AFCON has been a captivating spectacle, brimming with drama and an air of unpredictability. Determining the eventual winner has become a near-impossible task as each match unfolds with intensity and surprises.

Amidst all the action, one individual has shone brightly: Bamlak Tesema, an Ethiopian international referee selected among the elite group of 33 referees from various African countries officiating in this year’s AFCON tournament.

Bamlak has earned praise for his composed demeanor, impeccable decision-making, and effective management of the games.

His prowess as a referee was evident during the group stage, where he oversaw matches between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, as well as Cameroon and Zambia. He was also the fourth referee in the crucial playoff between Guinea and Equatorial Guinea.
In the ever-evolving world of football, refereeing has become an increasingly challenging task, with the introduction of video technology and the demand for accurate judgments. However, Bamlak’s exceptional performance has not only caught the attention of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) but also FIFA, leading to his repeated selection for important matches.

Bamlak’s journey as a referee began in 2003, and he achieved international referee status in 2009. Throughout the years, he has left an indelible mark on African football, officiating in various prestigious competitions, including the 2010 CECAFA Cup final.
His reputation as a top referee was further solidified during the 2014 FIFA qualifiers. But his involvement in the 2022 Cameroon AFCON semi-final between Senegal and Burkina Faso became a memorable moment. He used the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to overturn two penalty decisions.

Notably, Bamlak had the honor of officiating the 2023 African Champions League final at the iconic Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco. Despite facing criticism and complaints from Egyptian club Al Ahly, Bamlak displayed exceptional game management skills, proving his ability to thrive under pressure.

Following his recent standout performance in the AFCON match between Cameroon and Gambia, Bamlak was the recipient of widespread acclaim on various social media platforms. His speed, strength, and ability to make accurate decisions in high-pressure situations were all highlighted.

Bamlak’s talents extend beyond the football field. He is also a medical researcher and a sociology graduate from Addis Ababa University.

One of the most anticipated moments of this year’s AFCON is the consideration given to Bamlak to officiate the final in Ivory Coast. While he has never led an AFCON final before, many voices suggest that he is more than capable of rising to the occasion.

If selected, Bamlak will follow in the footsteps of another Ethiopian referee, Tesfaye Ghebreyesus, who has previously officiated several AFCON final matches.

Expectations run sky-high as over 200 world-class athletes prepare to push their limits in this fiercely competitive race.

The stakes are high, with the winner taking home a substantial prize of 125,000 birr. And if any athlete manages to break the existing record, they will be rewarded with an additional 50,000 birr bonus, adding an extra dose of excitement to the race.

The announcement was made by Cecile Mukarubuga, the UN Women Ethiopia Representative, speaking on behalf of Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

The theme for this year, “Invest in women: Accelerate progress,” shines a spotlight on the critical importance of investing in initiatives that champion gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Mukarubuga passionately emphasized that investing in women goes far beyond a mere act of charity; it is an essential step that benefits society as a whole but cannot be achieved without financial investment.

Official registration for the race kicked off on February 2, 2024. Interested individuals can secure their spot at 10 selected Dashen Bank branches, serving as the official payment partners for the race. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this milestone event!
This year’s race holds a special place in the hearts of participants as it coincides with the joyous celebration of Ireland’s National Day, St. Patrick’s Day. Ireland has been a steadfast supporter of the Women First 5km Race.

Nicola Brennan, Ireland’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, enthusiastically encouraged all participants to embrace the joy of running, appreciating the race’s positive impact on their health, fitness, and overall well-being.

Beyond its role in promoting women’s empowerment, the Great Ethiopian Women’s 5km serves as a poignant tribute to the remarkable 30-year relationship between Ireland and Ethiopia.

Representing various regions, cities, clubs and institutions, experienced veterans and up-and-coming stars will compete in a wide array of track and field events. Sprints from 100m to 10,000m, hurdles, relays, as well as field events like javelin, pole vault, discus, and shot put will all feature over the week-long competition.

A key event returns as the 20km race walk is also included in the Championship.

Since its establishment in 1970, the Ethiopian Athletics Championship has been the breeding ground for legendary athletes, etching their names into the annals of sporting history. It continues to serve as a prominent platform for unearthing and nurturing new talents in Ethiopian athletics. The presence of internationally experienced managers, representatives, and coaches at the championship provides an invaluable opportunity to identify and develop promising athletes, ensuring a bright future for Ethiopian athletics.

Records have fallen frequently at this event. In 2022, Tadese Worku and Girmawit Gebregizhaber set new national standards in the men’s and women’s 10,000m.

Tadese shattered the men’s 10,000-meter record that had stood for an impressive 16 years, clocking in at a mind-boggling 28:11:92, while Girmawit broke the women’s 10,000 meters with a remarkable time of 31:21:48, surpassing the previous record held by Letesenbet Gidey since 2011. With competition so fierce, more breakthrough times are expected.

However, concerns have been raised over the aging infrastructure. Champions have struggled on the worn track at the Academy. Both athletes and the Athletics Federation are appealing for upgrades to facilities to better develop the next generation of champions.

As other African nations host international meets, Ethiopia hopes to join their ranks. But modernizing domestic events to meet global standards is crucial to establish the country as host. By ensuring that times recorded in national events are directly accepted by the global athletics community, Ethiopia can position itself as a strong contender for future international competitions, further bolstering its reputation in the world of sports.

For participants, the Championship holds the promise of not just glory but also the opportunity to represent Ethiopia on the global stage.

The winners of the Ethiopian Athletics Championship will earn the privilege of competing in esteemed international competitions, including the African Athletics Championship in Cameroon (June 19-23, 2023), the 13th African Games Athletics Championship in Ghana (March 8-23, 2023), and the highly anticipated Olympic Games in Paris (July 26-August 11, 2024).