A cursory look at the Afcon 2022 squads will reveal a plethora of European League Stars but not so for Ethiopia, whose squad for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon between 9 January - 6 February 2022, parades the stars of the BetKing Ethiopia Premier League.
The many stars include last season's top scorer Abubekher Nasir, veteran captain Getaneh Kebede, Dawa Hotessa and, despite moving to Algeria this season, Mujib Kassim, who led Fasil to the title last term.
Walia Ibex head coach Wubetu Abate has selected a 25-man squad, with 23 players from the BetKing Ethiopia Premier League alongside Shemeles Beleke from El Gouna in Egypt and Mujib Kassim from JS Karbyle of Algeria
The league has grown in leaps and bounds in the last two seasons of TV coverage and massive investments from sponsors and partners, BetKing and DStv, as well as broadcaster SuperSport which has made the players popular across the continent as their games are beamed across Africa.
There have been outstanding performances from the foreign stars in the league, no doubt, but the Ethiopian stars have held their own.
“We have picked a strong team that should be able to perform well at the tournament in Cameroon,” said Wubetu Abate.
However, it is clear that coach Abate has gone for experience with his choices, although some of the big stars like Abubekher Nasir of Ethiopia Coffee, Amanuel Grebremichael of St George and Mesfin Tafesse of Hawassa are still relatively young.
Some of the outstanding players this season have a chance to enhance their growing reputation like Bezabh Melayu from Fasil Kenema
A few who didn't make the cut despite this stellar season so far include Fitsum Tilahun from Addis Ababa City, Binyam Belay of Mekelakeya and Yegezu Bogale from Sidama Coffee, but such is the talent at the disposal of coach Abate.
There's also Chernet Gugsa, who was spectacular for Wolaitta Dicha last season but hasn't featured for St George since his big move. Interestingly, his brother, Shemeket Gugsa, made the cut and is listed as a forward.
Ethiopia open their Afcon 2022 account in group A against Cape Verde on 9 January in Yaounde, followed by a tough game against hosts Cameroon on 13 January before an encounter with Burkina Faso on 17 January.
Ethiopia last appeared at the continental showpiece in South Africa 2013, where they were eliminated after losing to Nigeria. Only three players from that squad are on the flight to Cameroon; Getaneh Kebede, Shemeles Bekele and goalkeeper Jemal Tasew
Goalkeepers: Teklemariam Shanko (Sidama Coffee, Ethiopia), Fasil Gebremichael (Bahir Dar Ketema, Ethiopia), Jemal Tassew (Adama Ketema, Ethiopia).
Defenders: Asrat Tunjo (Ethiopian Coffee, Ethiopia), Suleiman Hamid (St George, Ethiopia), Remedan Yesouf (Wolkite K, Ethiopia), Desta Yohannes (Adama K, Ethiopia), Aschalew Tamene (Fasil K, Ethiopia), Yared Bayeh (Fasil K, Ethiopia), Mignot Debebe (St George, Ethiopia), Menaf Awol (Bahir Dar K, Ethiopia).
Midfielders: Amanuel Yohannes (Ethiopian Coffee, Ethiopia), Gatuoch Panom (St George, Ethiopia), Shemeles Bekele (El Gouna, Egypt), Mesoud Mohammed (Jimma AJ, Ethiopia), Fitsum Alemu (Bahir Dar K, Ethiopia), Firew Solomon (Sidama Coffee, Ethiopia), Bezabeh Meleyou (Fasil K, Ethiopia).
Forwards: Abubeker Nassir (Ethiopian Coffee, Ethiopia), Getaneh Kebede (Wolkite K, Ethiopia), Amanuel Gebremichael (St George, Ethiopia), Shemeket Gugsa (Fasil K, Ethiopia), Mujib Kassim (JS Kabylie, Algeria), Mesfin Taffese (Hawassa K, Ethiopia), Dawa Hotessa (Adama K, Ethiopia).
Content Credit - Vandyke Sports