Ethiopia can finally host international football matches at home after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) approved the refurbished Dire Dawa Stadium on Monday.
Since 2021, Ethiopia had been forced to play abroad after CAF ruled that stadiums in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Dire Dawa did not meet international standards. Now, Dire Dawa Stadium will host the second leg of Ethiopia’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe on March 31. The first leg will be played away on March 25.
The Ethiopia Football Federation welcomed the decision, saying the modern stadium was built through cooperation with the Dire Dawa city administration and is ready for national and international competitions. Former international player Yohannes Sahle has been reappointed to prepare the team for the qualifiers.
The winner over two legs will advance to the group stage of the tournament, whose finals will be hosted next year by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: TRT Africa
