The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has issued a clarification regarding reports of youth players who allegedly went missing during the Gothia Cup in Sweden, expressing concern over the situation while distancing itself from the team involved.
In a statement, the Federation said it was saddened by the reports but emphasized that the group in question was not an official Ethiopian national team contingent.
According to the EFF, the players traveled independently after securing the opportunity to participate in the prestigious youth tournament on their own, without the Federation’s direct involvement or endorsement.
The Federation further urged media outlets and the general public to exercise accuracy in their reporting, particularly in identifying the team, to avoid any misrepresentation of the national body.
The Gothia Cup, widely regarded as one of the world’s largest international youth football tournaments, attracts teams from across the globe each year, making issues of representation and identity especially significant for participating nations.
