Ethiopian Football Federation close to confirming eligibility of dual nationals with national team

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) is working to use dual national players from the Ethiopian diaspora for the Ethiopia senior and youth national sides. With a new regulation set to be active in the coming months, the federation hopes to field players with Ethiopian heritage once they obtain the green light from FIFA.

Pan-Africa Football understands the EFF has made strides to make this dream come to fruition. Insider sources told Pan-Africa Football that a deal could be struck between the EFF and FIFA in the next two months. The EFF, with backing from the country’s immigration and citizenship office, is expected to submit the necessary documents to the world football governing body so that dual-citizen players with Ethiopian heritage can represent the national side.

The new development could see the Waliyas getting the necessary reinforcements with European football experience. The federation’s chief foreign-based players scout, David Beshah, has been following players who are eligible to represent Ethiopia for the last few years. If the EFF can present credible documents and FIFA accepts them, eligible players can start representing Ethiopia, first in the African U17 Nations Cup qualifier matches in the next two months.

Ethiopia doesn’t allow dual citizenship under its constitution. This rule hindered the EFF from using players with Ethiopian roots. Fans have been pushing the federation to make an effort to make this dream happen for a long time.