Ethiopia Ends Five-Year Wait to Host National Team Matches Again

Ethiopia's senior men's national football team can now play home matches for the first time in five years, following the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) approval on Monday for the use of its stadium in Dire Dawa.

The East African nation, with a population of 130 million, had been forced to play its matches abroad since 2021, after CAF deemed its three main stadiums in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Dire Dawa as not meeting international standards.

CAF has decided to allow Ethiopia to play the return leg of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary round qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe on March 31 at the Dire Dawa stadium, its second-largest venue. This decision comes after inspectors approved the work carried out at the facility, according to an announcement by the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF).

The EFF stated on its website: "This is good news for us. From now on, Dire Dawa International Stadium will be able to host national team matches." It added: "This modern stadium was built in cooperation between the Dire Dawa city administration and the Ethiopian Football Federation, and it is ready to host national and international competitions."

The EFF has reappointed former international player Yohannes Sahle to prepare the national team for the continental championship qualifiers. The first leg of the preliminary round match will be held in Sao Tome on March 25. The winner of the two-legged tie will qualify for the group stage. The continental finals will be held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda next year.

Ethiopia, which hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1976, finished fifth in Group A of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, securing only nine points from ten matches.