Gebreweld blames foreign-based players after Ethiopia misses WAFCON 2026 spot

Ethiopian women’s national team head coach Yoseph Gebreweld has criticised his foreign-based players, labelling them too individualistic in their style of play after failing to secure a spot in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Ethiopia were eliminated from the final round of qualifiers by Tanzania with an aggregate score of 3–0.

After going down 1–0 to the Twiga Stars in Dire Dawa on Tuesday, October 28, Gebreweld placed the blame on his foreign-based players. The players in question are RS Berkane player Ariyat Odong and Yanga Princess midfielder Aregash Kalesa.

“We brought them thinking they would help us. I don’t know about their performance level. Ariyat did not train with us. Aregash trained for only three days. Loza did not feature in the first game. They did not train with us for long. I don’t think they contributed much to the team with their performances. Especially Ariyat and Aregash did not help the team. They were too individualistic in their style of play, and almost all of their passes were wrong. If you don’t play as a team, football will make you pay the price.”

Gebreweld’s strong words suggest there has been tension within the Ethiopian women’s national team. Close sources to the team, who wished to remain anonymous, told Pan Africa Football that the coach was pressured to select certain players without his consent.

Lucy, as the team is nicknamed, have failed to qualify for WAFCON once again. Their last qualification came in 2012 under the guidance of Abraham Tekelehaymanot.

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) Secretary General, Bahiru Tilahun, previously stated that Gebreweld was obliged to qualify Ethiopia for WAFCON 2026. With the failed attempt, it remains unclear whether the former Hawassa Ketema women’s team coach will stay at the helm.