Ethiopian Premier League: Ethiopian Insurance strengthen title bid; Hawassa move out of drop zone

Week 27 of the Ethiopian Premier League came to an end with Ethiopian Insurance cementing their lead at the top of the standings. The South Ethiopian derby between Hawassa Ketema and Sidama Coffee ended in a stalemate.

Ethiopian Insurance scored twice in the second half to defeat Arbaminch Ketema 2-0. Ugandan import Allan Kayiwa opened the scoring with a rebound after Crocodiles’ goalkeeper Idrissa Ogodojo made a fine save to deny Bereket Caleb. Former Saint George striker Abubaker Sani’s diving header sealed a crucial victory for Gebremedhin Haile’s side as they continue their march toward a maiden league title.

The Addis Ababa-based club tops the table with 54 points, 11 ahead of second-placed Bahir Dar Ketema. In a pivotal Week 28 clash, Ethiopian Insurance will face Bahir Dar in a top-of-the-table showdown. Arbaminch Ketema sit 10th with 35 points.

The derby between relegation battlers Hawassa Ketema and Sidama Coffee ended in a 1-1 draw. In-form midfielder Fikreyesus Tewldebirhane gave Hawassa the lead, but his strike was later canceled out by a Bereket Samuel penalty. Tewldebirhane has now scored in four consecutive matches, continuing his impressive league and Ethiopian Cup form.

Hawassa Ketema are now out of the relegation zone for the first time in 2025 under head coach Mulugeta Miherte, sitting 14th with 28 points. Sidama Coffee are ninth with 36 points. Mekelle 70 Enderta have slipped into the drop zone, with three of the four relegation-threatened clubs now coming from Northern Ethiopia.

Week 27 Results

Sihul Shire 1-1 Wolayta Dicha

Adama Ketema 1-1 Wolwalo Adigrat University

Ethiopian Coffee 2-0 Diredawa Ketema

Fasil Kenema 1-1 Hadiya Hosaina

Mekele 70 Enderta 0-1 Saint George

Bahirdar Ketema 2-0 Ethio-Electric

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia 0-0 Mechal

Arbaminch Ketema 0-2 Ethiopian Insurance

Hawassa Ketema 1-1 Sidama Coffee

Week 28 Fixtures

Adama Ketema vs Mekele 70 Enderta

Ethiopian Coffee vs Hadiya Hosaina

Ethio-Electric vs Saint George

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia vs Wolwalo Adigrat University

Sihul Shire vs Fasil Kenema

Wolayta Dicha vs Arbaminch Ketema

Ethiopian Insurance vs Bahirdar Ketema

Diredawa Ketema vs Hawassa Ketema

Sidama Coffee vs Mechal

League Table