Yidnekatchew Tessema (Amharic: ይድነቃቸው ተሠማ; 11 September 1921 – 19 August 1987) was an Ethiopian professional footballer who played as a striker.

During the racially segregated footballing of the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, Yidnekatchew translated the rules of football into Amharic language for the Native Sports Office.

[2] The year following the end of the occupation, Yidnekatchew led the establishment of an official sports federation.[which?

][3] Tessema was a founding member of the Confederation of African Football[4] (CAF) in the late 1950s.

He was also member of the African Sport Congress, International Olympic Committee,[5] FIFA and President of the African Olympics Committee.