The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) Executive Committee has announced a major reform that will be implemented across the top flight and lower division leagues beginning next season. The federation has confirmed that only CAF-certified coaches will be permitted to work in its leagues starting from the 2026/27 season.
The EFF Executive Committee has approved new minimum coaching license requirements. The policy was first introduced last season, with Ethiopian Premier League clubs required to appoint or hire a head coach holding a CAF A License. However, the federation allowed CAF B License holders to serve as head coaches for the 2025/26 season only.
Under the new requirements for the Ethiopian Premier League, both the head coach and assistant coach must each hold a CAF A License, and every club is required to appoint both a head coach and an assistant coach. If a club wishes to appoint a second assistant coach, the minimum qualification required is a CAF B License. Goalkeeper coaches must hold at least a CAF C License.
In the Ethiopian Higher League, the country’s second division, both the head coach and assistant coach must hold a CAF B License, while the goalkeeper coach must hold a CAF C License. In Ethiopian League One, the third division, the head coach, assistant coach, and goalkeeper coach must all hold CAF C Licenses.
In the Ethiopian Women’s Premier League, the head coach must hold a CAF B License, while the assistant coach and goalkeeper coach must each hold a CAF C License. In the Ethiopian Women’s Higher League, the head coach, assistant coach, and goalkeeper coach must all hold CAF C Licenses. The EFF has also introduced a new directive requiring clubs competing in the Ethiopian Women’s Premier League and the Women’s Higher League to have at least one woman serving as either the head coach or assistant coach.
The EFF has been actively conducting CAF coaching license courses in recent years. The new changes are expected to affect only a few clubs, as most have already complied with the directive since the beginning of last season. By implementing the new licensing requirements, the federation hopes to continue developing qualified coaches who will become valuable assets to Ethiopian football.
