The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) have announced the appointment of Wubetu Abate as the new coach of the national team, ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger in November.
The EFF did not renew the contract of the national team’s former coach Abraham Mebratu last August amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Abate signed a two-year contract. At the unveiling, the EFF president Esayas Jira disclosed he was very careful with the recruitment process.
“Following the government’s approval of football activities resumption, we took only few days to name a new coach. The technical committee proposed a list of coaches and our choice fell on Wubetu Abate.”
Abate will be given the task to qualify the nation to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the FIFA World Cup qualifiers final playoffs.
The newly appointed coach says he is aware of the risks that come with the job, yet insists it is a dream to coach the Ethiopian national team.
“I like challenges and enjoy them. I face many challenges in my coaching career. The higher the risk, the higher the reward. It was a dream for me to manage Ethiopia national team. Surprisingly, the dream has come true, and I hope to achieve good results during my spell”.
Abate has managed domestic clubs in Ethiopia such as Adama City, Ethiopian Coffee, Dedebeit, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Hawassa City, Fasil Kenema, and Sebeta Town FC. He also coached a club in Sudan Al Ahli Shendi.
Ethiopia currently sit in second place in Group K of their AFCON qualifiers. They lost 1-0 to group leaders Madagascar, and had a surprising 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast in November 2019.
Abate’s first game in charge of the Ethiopian national team will be an away game against bottom of the table Niger in Niamey.