Ethiopian FA Denies Missing Gothia Cup Players Were National Team Members

Posted : 30 July 2026

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has clarified reports linking a group of missing youth football players in Sweden to the country's national team setup. The Federation stated that the team involved in the incident was not an official Ethiopian national team and did not travel under its authority.

In an official statement, the EFF said it was saddened by the reports surrounding the players but stressed that the group participated in the Gothia Cup independently. According to the Federation, the players secured the opportunity to attend the international youth tournament on their own and were not selected, organised or supervised by the national football body.

The Federation also appealed to media organisations and the public to accurately identify the team involved. It urged reporters not to describe the players as members of Ethiopia's official national youth teams, saying such reports create a misleading impression about the Federation's involvement.

The clarification follows widespread reports that around 20 members of an Ethiopian youth team, including players aged between 14 and 17 and at least one team official, failed to return home after the conclusion of the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden. Swedish police have said there are no immediate indications of criminal activity and believe the disappearance appears to have been voluntary.

Tournament organisers confirmed they contacted the authorities after discovering the group had left the accommodation provided for participating teams without notifying officials. Police later launched a missing persons investigation after the delegation did not board its scheduled journey back to Ethiopia.

The Gothia Cup is one of the world's largest international youth football tournaments, attracting thousands of teams from different countries each year. The competition gives young players the opportunity to compete against clubs and academies from across the globe.

The EFF's statement aims to separate the Federation from the incident while protecting the integrity of its national youth programmes. The governing body maintained that the missing players were not representing Ethiopia in an official capacity and reiterated the importance of accurate reporting as investigations continue.

Swedish authorities are continuing their inquiries into the whereabouts of the group. Officials have indicated that the players are believed to have contacted family members, but their current location remains unknown.

Ethiopian FA Denies Missing Gothia Cup Players Were National Team Members

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics