Ethiopia might have had a miserable showing in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations ( Afcon ), but nevertheless their playing in the continental showpiece is a massive win for the country. The Walia Ibex, as the men's national team is known, returned to the Afcon after a nine-year absence. Ethiopia , Egypt , Sudan and South Africa were the four founding members of the Afcon in 1957 when the first finals took place in Khartoum, Sudan . Bekele was in the Ethiopian team that played in the 2013 Afcon in South Africa . Even though Ethiopia have not lit up the Afcon , their presence briefly offered a glimmer of hope for their country, whose citizens are eager for conflict there to end.

Source: Ethiopian News January 22, 2022 16:18 UTC