Ethiopia without Loza Abera for key WAFCON qualifier

The Ethiopian Women’s National Team will be without Loza Abera for the crucial 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier final-round first-leg encounter against Tanzania on Wednesday, October 22.

The DC Power striker left for Addis Ababa late and has been omitted from the already-travelled squad.

Abera, who serves as captain of the national team, is expected to join the squad for the return-leg match. RS Berkane
midfielder Ariyat Odong has already travelled to the Ethiopian capital, as she also misses the trip to Tanzania.

Head coach Yoseph Gebreweld has assembled a squad that predominantly features players from the Ethiopian Women’s Premier League. Tanzania-based influential midfielder Aregash Kalesa is included in the mix. Forward Senay Wakuma, who recently swapped league champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia for Mechal, joined the squad after a trial in the United States with DC Power. Gebreweld will be counting on both players as he hopes his charges can secure a positive result and qualify for WAFCON 2026.

Ethiopia last qualified for WAFCON in 2012, when they beat Tanzania in the final round of qualifiers. Gebreweld said his aim is to repeat that history. “It has been 14 years since we last qualified for WAFCON. The Federation worked hard even before we started preparations so that we can change this history.”

Goalkeeper Tarikua Bergena will captain Lucy against the Twiga Stars in the Azam Complex Stadium. Ethiopia and Tanzania reached the final round after eliminating Uganda and Equatorial Guinea, respectively, in the first round.