July 24 – Ethiopia and Eritrea, at war for 20 years until a recent peace accord and rapprochement, have agreed to stage an historic friendly in August.
An exact date for the match is yet to be decided but looks set to be played in the Eritrean capital Asmara.
Ethiopia boycotted games against Eritrea in 2000 and refused to take part in the east and central African regional under-20 event organised by Cecafa.
For their part Eritrea have also failed to take part in the 2015 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup and forfeited a 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Ethiopia.
The proposed match is part of an initiative by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to end a generation of hostility between the nations, wracked by a border war since 1998 that has killed more than 80,000 people.
Ethiopia’s national carrier Ethiopia Airlines last week made its first flight to Asmara in two decades and was greeted by dancers waving flags and flowers.
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