The Ethiopian national football team, the Walias will not take part in this year’s upcoming CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup tournament that is kicking off this Saturday in Uganda.

The Walias have decided to pull out due to inadequate funds offered by their government to the Ethiopian Football Federation which has hindered much of their preparation ahead of the tourney.

Ethiopia were put in group A alongside hosts and record champions Uganda, Burundi and Eritrea but after communication from Dallas, the group is set to remain with three teams.

Ethiopia has won the CECAFA Senior Challenge cup four times in their football history with the last coming almost 15 years ago.

Ethiopia becomes the second side to pull out of the CECAFA senior challenge cup this year after Rwanda pulled out earlier also citing lack of funds and insecurity in Uganda for their players.

The first game with takeplace this Saturday between Burundi and Eritrea at the FUFA technical center in Jinja.

Uganda are the record champions of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup with 12 titles to their name followed by Kenya who won the championship are on seven titles.

Group A: Uganda, Eritrea, Burundi.

Group B: DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia.

Group C: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Djibouti.