Ethiopia in action against DR Congo in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying
Photo Credit: Ethiopian Football Federation
In an exclusive interview with Pan-Africa Football, Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) chief foreign players scout David Besha stated he is tirelessly working to get the green light from FIFA to field foreign based players who have Ethiopian heritage.
A former Ethiopian national team player, Besha was born in Germany to a German mother and Ethiopian father. The former right back spent his club career in Germany along with a spell at Ethiopian Coffee SC.
David Besha
Besha stated the EFF is waiting on the go ahead from the country’s immigration authority to finalize the legality issues:
“Basically we are waiting for a year now for the final letter from the immigration office. From the federation side we have already prepared a document to give to FIFA regarding the foreign based players. We want to make them eligible to play. Normally FIFA accepts passport as a proof of identity. Since we don’t allow dual citizenship we should find another way. So we will go ahead with this proof of identity that is the Ethiopian origin ID. The final letter is necessary.”
Players with Ethiopian origin are often overlooked by the EFF due to the legal challenges that arise from allowing a passport. Ethiopia does not allow dual citizenship to players with Ethiopian origin born outside the country, who must renounce their other passport to represent Ethiopia. Besha believes this proof of identity card might be of help and expects FIFA to collaborate with EFF. “This issue will be sorted. Once we get approval from the immigration authority then it will take FIFA no more than five days to respond. There is a Spanish law firm that is helping us out.”
FC Kaiserslautern midfielder Kenny Prince Redondo, born in Germany to an Ethiopian father, could represent Ethiopia if David Besha is successful in his efforts.
Photo Credit: 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Besha said he has singlehandedly made a database of potentially eligible foreign-based players. According to him 200 players would be eligible to represent Ethiopia, most of whom play in European leagues. Nonetheless a lack of financial support from EFF made it difficult to scout all of them. The federation is going through a rough patch when it comes to financial stability and Besha currently covers his expenses. “I didn’t have any support. They are tight in budget. But my main concern is making the foreign-based players to be eligible.”
Besha also stated that he wants to organize a scouting department, something the EFF currently lacks. “I will definitely talk with the EFF on setting up the scouting department. We want to have a budget and we should expand it to the local players too.”
For now, Besha does not have a particular position to prioritize but once FIFA agrees on the EFF proposition, he wants to speak to the national team coach on who to get first. Besha also doubles down on the idea that Ethiopia should focus on foreign based players rather than the local talents. He believes finding team balance and uniting the foreign based players with the local talents can improve results for Ethiopian national teams.
Walid Atta (right), one of the few examples of a player born outside the country to represent the Ethiopia national team, travels for a 2015 AFCON qualifying match in Mali
Ten years ago, Swedish-born players Yussuf Saleh and Walid Atta represented Ethiopia in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. Besha's goal is to see more situations like this in pursuit of an Ethiopia team that is more competitive. Ethiopia finished last in their qualifying group in the recently completed qualifying competition for the 2025 AFCON and their next competitive game will be in March when qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup resumes, where the Walias are 5th in Group A with three points from four matches.
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