Isayas Jira Bosho set to stand unopposed in Ethiopian Football Federation election

Isayas Jira Bosho, the president of the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF), is set to stand unopposed in the federation’s forthcoming presidential election.

The election is scheduled to take place on 15 September 2026 during the EFF General Assembly, with Jira emerging as the sole candidate for the presidency.

Jira’s expected re-election would give him a third term in charge of Ethiopian football. He has previously won two presidential elections and is also a member of the Confederation of African Football’s Executive Committee.

The EFF’s electoral committee confirmed earlier that the presidential election would be held on 15 September. Unlike previous arrangements, only the presidential position will be contested during the assembly, with members of the Executive Committee to be nominated by the president-elect.

The election process follows amendments to the federation’s statutes. The previous rules limited the president and Executive Committee members to two terms, but the regulations were changed to allow Jira to seek another mandate.

Candidates were required to secure the backing of four General Assembly members as well as an endorsement from the regional state or city administration they represent. Presidential candidates were also required to submit proposed Executive Committees consisting of eight members, including at least two women, alongside five alternate members, also including at least two women.

With no other candidate emerging for the presidency, Jira is now on course to continue leading the federation following the General Assembly in Addis Ababa.

His third-term bid comes as the EFF seeks to build on its ongoing efforts to develop Ethiopian football at both domestic and international level.

Jira first became EFF president in 2018, when he won the election after securing 87 of the 145 votes cast by the federation’s General Assembly. He subsequently retained the position and is now set to seek another mandate.

The 15 September assembly will therefore be less about a contested presidential race and more about formally confirming Jira’s continuation at the helm of Ethiopian football.

If elected as expected, Jira will begin another term with responsibility for overseeing the federation’s national teams, domestic competitions and wider football development programmes.

The Ethiopian Football Federation is the governing body for football in the country and has been affiliated with FIFA since 1952 and with CAF since 1957.