Ethiopia FA boss steps aside

Fifa has cancelled Ethiopia's World Cup qualifier against Morocco

The president of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) Ahmed Yasine has stepped aside, citing health problems.

His deputy Tekka Asfor has taken over but the move is unlikely to end the international ban imposed on the country by Fifa.

The EFF problems began in January when its general assembly fired the federation's president Dr Ashebir Woldergiorgis and elected Ahmed Yasin to replace him.

Fifa banned the country from international football in September when the EFF refused to implement a 'roadmap' to resolve the issue.

Dr Ashebir believes that the latest events mean he will be back in charge in a few months' time.

"I am very convinced that they will leave the post one after the other. Yasine started and I am sure Asfor will follow him soon," he said.

"The pressure from the clubs and government is growing and I think that's the reason why Yasine has stepped aside.

"The pressure from these bodies will continue to mount and it will pave the way for the right thing to be done."

Working with Caf, Fifa drew up a 'roadmap' to resolve the issue, but the committee which replaced Dr Ashebir has failed to follow the plan.

Fifa suspended the EFF and then ejected Ethiopia from qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.

Ethiopia had been in with a chance of reaching the second group phase of the 2010 qualifiers, but will play little international football over the next two years, unless the row is resolved.