Ethiopia Football Federation(EFF) has sent invites to top West African and North African teams for friendlies ahead of CHAN 2016 .

EFF President Junedin Basha speaking to Soka25east.com intimated that the federation hoped to land friendlies from top teams in West Africa and North Africa notably Ghana and Morocco.

Basha also announced that Ethiopia Walia Ibex would arrive in Rwanda the host of CHAN 2016 10 days ahead of commencement of the tournament.

“The federation wants proper preparations for Walia Ibex ahead of CHAN 2016 that is why we are looking to get high profile friendly matches to help in team cohesion ahead of the important tourney.EFF belives in involving all  their teams in both local and International tournaments to give them the much needed exposure and opportunities every footballer dreams about”EFF President Junedin Basha told Soka25east.com

On their plans for CHAN 2016, Basha was straight forward with his answer ” we intend to take the team to Rwanda ten days before commencement of the tournament to allow for team building and total concentrations between the player and technical bench.We also intend play some friendlies in Rwanda ahead of the big day”he added

Ethiopia Walia Ibex under coach Yohannes Sahle qualified for the CAF organised African football showpiece that involves players based in their respective countries.

Ethiopia will join hosts Rwanda and Uganda Cranes as the only representatives of Cecafa Region.Uganda Cranes won the recently concluded Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup organised by Ethiopia.

Ethiopia also qualified and partcipated in the CHAN 2014 hosted by South Africa where they lost in the first round leading the federation to sack then coach Sewnet Bishaw replacing him with Portuguese Mariano Barreto who was then sacked as former International Yohannes Sahle was handed the reigns.