The 2019 Total African U-17 Nations Cup East and Central Zone qualifier will take place in Tanzania from August 11 to August 26.
Tanzania is also hosting the main event in May 2019. Ethiopia is confirmed among the 10 participating nation which set their eyes to qualify for the biennial continental youth tournament.
The Red Foxes are pitted against regional powerhouses Uganda and Kenya. Minnows Djibouti and South Sudan complete the lineup in Group B. Ethiopia opens the qualifier against Uganda on Sunday, August 12. The team is expected to camp in unknown location at the end of July.
Coach Temesgen Dana will lead the team. The Red Foxes have not qualified for a major continental tournament since 1997. Ethiopia bow out early at the group stages of the CECAFA U-17 Championship which was hosted in Burundi where Tanzania triumphed over Somalia to take the crown.
National Stadium and Chamazi ground will host the qualifier games. The winner of the tournament will automatically get a spot in the next year’s U-17 Nations Cup along hosts Tanzania.
Full Group Draw
Group A: Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan
Group B: Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Djibouti
Ethiopia’s Group B Fixtures
Sunday August 12
Uganda vs. Ethiopia (Chamazi)
Tuesday August 14
Djibouti vs. Ethiopia (Chamazi)
Sunday August 19
Ethiopia vs. South Sudan (Chamazi)
Wednesday August 22
Ethiopia vs. Kenya (Chamazi)
