The decision followed the departure of former head coach Mesay Teferi and came after a period of internal review by the federation. Saintfiet, 52, is no stranger to Ethiopian football, having previously managed the national team during a brief spell in 2011. The Belgian coach, who has also served as head coach of The Gambia, gained recognition for assembling disciplined and resilient teams. “As the Ethiopian Football Federation, we examined the matter in detail and discussed it. While Saintfiet remains highly regarded within Ethiopian football circles, the federation acknowledged that ambition had to be balanced against practical constraints.

Source: Ethiopian News January 25, 2026 08:32 UTC