Ziemer sets 2026 U-17 AFCON qualification as Ethiopia’s main target

Ethiopian U-17 national side head coach Benjamin Ziemer said their aim is to qualify for the 2026 African U-17 Nations Cup. The Red Foxes, as they are locally nicknamed, will open their U17 AFCON CECAFA Zone Qualifier against Rwanda in Addis Ababa on Saturday, November 15.

The American head coach is tasked with the responsibility of securing a fourth appearance at the U-17 AFCON for Ethiopia. “Our goal is to qualify. So we would like to be in the top 3. That means we would like to be in the semifinals. The next goal is to finish as high as possible. The last is obviously to win it.”

Ziemer stated that East African football is awakening, with some national sides doing well in youth development. He acknowledged the effort put in by Rwanda in youth development. “I think Rwanda is a few steps ahead as a country, being very honest. Looking at their structure, their national training center, and they had a technical director for some time. Their senior team plays modern football, lines close together. I expect this team to be very good. They have brought five international players.”

Ziemer also noted that Ethiopia have immense footballing talent that can be developed in the right way. He also thanked the Ethiopian Football Federation for their unwavering support during the preparation time. Ethiopia last qualified for the U-17 AFCON in 1997. They hope to achieve the feat on home soil when the CECAFA Zone Qualifiers kick off on November 14, with ten nations vying for a place in the U-17 AFCON. Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa will host the matches.

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