Ethiopian Coffee take derby honours with win over Saint George

In a rescheduled Week 20 match from the 2025/26 CBE Ethiopian Premier League, Ethiopian Coffee beat bitter rivals Saint George 3–1 in the Sheger Derby in front of a packed Addis Ababa Stadium. More than 20,000 fans attended the 51st edition of the rivalry match in the capital.

The Horsemen started the tie with a more direct approach, opting for swift counterattacks. The Browns tried to dominate the midfield, but controlling the tempo of the game was tough for both sides. Saint George took the lead in the 24th minute when Habtamu Gulelat set up Fitsum Tilahun to slot home from close range after poor defending from Ethiopian Coffee.

The visitors came close to equalizing through a strong left-footed effort from Nigerian striker Abubaker Adamu. The Browns got the much-needed equalizer at the stroke of half-time when Okay Jul finished from the edge of the box in a composed manner following superb work from team captain Ramkel James.

In the second half, Ethiopian Coffee opted for more direct football and were rewarded shortly with a goal from Biniyam Getachew. The former Dire Dawa Ketema forward capitalized on a concentration lapse by the Horsemen to put the ball into the net. The Browns were the better side and got their third goal when Zelalem Abate scored from inside the box with a right-footed strike in the 66th minute.

After the win, Ethiopian Coffee is still 7th in the table with 41 points, six ahead of 10th-placed Saint George. In Round 29, Ethiopian Coffee will play relegation battlers Wolwalo Adigrat University, while Saint George is up against title aspirants Sidama Coffee.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Saint George S.C Fans (@st_george_s.a)