Ethiopia left idle in June as friendly vs Malaysia falls through

Photo: Ethiopian Football Federation

A proposed friendly game between Ethiopia and Malaysia failed to materialize, as the Waliyas will not play during June’s FIFA international window. An attempt by the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) to arrange a match fell through, as the team now waits for the September edition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers.

A close source, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the EFF had planned several months ago to organize a friendly game for the senior national side. The EFF has often been criticized for not arranging friendlies for the national team.

However, this time, efforts were made to schedule a match against Asian nation Malaysia. The source further explained that the ongoing Ethiopian Premier League matches and the upcoming Ethiopian Cup final conflicted with the international match calendar.

While most African nations are playing friendly games to remain in peak condition, Malaysia played to a 1–1 draw against Cape Verde in Kuala Lumpur. The Waliyas failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and currently sit fourth in Group A of the World Cup qualifiers with six points—five points behind the playoff spot. They will face group leaders Egypt and Sierra Leone in September.