By Admin,

Ethiopia was not among the final list of countries that include Kenya,Tanzania,Zimbabwe,Ghana,Algeria,Egypt who presented their Afcon 2017 bid at the end of the deadline on 30^th September as expected after the Ethiopian football federation (EFF) early announced their intentions when Libya pulled out.

However EFF President Junedin Basha sort to explain the circumstances that led to Ethiopia not submitting their bid after several high profile meetings with top CAF executives in the just concludes Congress and General meeting held in Addis Ababa between September 12^th to 20^th this year.

Instead Ethiopia will be bidding for CHAN 2020 and AFCON 2025 a time they will expect all the infrastructure to be ready.

“I can confirm to you that EFF did not submit a bid for 2017 as earlier expected after I held high profile meetings with top CAF executives who advised on the way forward since 2017 was so near yet all the infrastructure that include stadiums would be ready by then”

“Its important to take note that one of the regulations stipulated in the 2017 bid process required that countries should have hosted a high profile tournament which we have not and after consultations we decided not to put a bid just for the sake of it since we would not be realistically ready by 2017”Junedin Basha exclusively told Soka25east.com

“Its important to critically look at all the underlying factors and I can confirm we have received an email from CAF on our interest for 2020 CHAN and 2025 AFCON which we will definitely pursue and I am optimistic we will be ready by then and get it because at this moment East African countries don’t have a chance as they have not hosted a tournament of this magnitude as per the regulations which require countries to be ready after Libya pulled out”Junedin added

“Many people might argue differently but its important to realize we want to have realistic targets and if the parent body CAF gave us genuine opinion and advice it was important not to be in a rush to just make the numbers “.

Ethiopia is one of the three CAF founders and the last time they hosted the prestigious tournament In 1957 there were only three participating nations: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, South Africa,was originally scheduled to compete, but were disqualified due to the apartheid policies of the government then in power

The field grew to include nine teams for the third ANC in 1962 in Addis Ababa, and for the first time there was a qualification round to determine which four teams would play for the title. Host Ethiopia and reigning champion Egypt received automatic berths, and were joined in the final four by Nigeria and Tunisia. Egypt made its third competition.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com