The Ethiopian national team has been pitted against heavyweight Senegal, an ascending Mozambique, and regional rivals Sudan in Group J for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
Senegal enter as overwhelming favorites. The Teranga Lions claim a star-studded squad and a point to prove following the highly controversial circumstances surrounding the 2025 final in Morocco. It is widely expected they will navigate the group stages without a hitch.
Consequently, Mozambique and Sudan are favored to battle it out for the remaining ticket to the tournament. Both sides enjoyed impressive runs to the Round of 16 in the 2025 edition, proving their continental pedigree. Sudan’s achievement was particularly heroic given the ongoing conflict at home, while Mozambique’s success solidified their rise following consecutive tournament appearances.
On paper, Ethiopia starts as the underdog, having struggled to replicate the form that saw them qualify for Cameroon 2021. Yet, there remains a quiet confidence among the fans that the Walias possess the tactical capability to challenge both Sudan and Mozambique—provided they can leverage true home advantage.
With local authorities pushing to finalize the construction of the Adey Ababa Stadium and complete renovations on the Bahir Dar Stadium, the true hope for this campaign rests on finally bringing the national team back to play in front of its own people.
