Sheger Derby headlines opening week of the Ethiopian Premier League

The 2025/26 Ethiopian Premier League kicked off on Saturday, October 18, with four games played in Addis Ababa and Hawassa. The top flight, now called the CBE Ethiopian Premier League for sponsorship reasons, will continue with Ethiopian Coffee hosting archrivals Saint George in Sunday’s Sheger Derby.

Ethiopian Coffee will host Saint George at the Addis Ababa Stadium in Group B of the league later today. The Browns already lost to the Horsemen a week ago in a preseason tournament named the Addis Ababa Renaissance Cup, as Saint George clinched the title by beating Mechal 2–1.

Coffee will be relying on Divine Nwachukwu for chance creation, with the Nigerian being the most influential player for the club. Saint George boast a good striking partnership between Abel Yalew, who returned to Ethiopia after an unsuccessful stint at ZED FC in Egypt, and Biniyam Fikre.

According to the league, all tickets for the derby game are sold out, as a huge crowd is expected at the Addis Ababa Stadium. League action has returned to the capital for the first time since the 2020/21 season. When the league kicked off on Saturday, Ethio Electric pipped newcomers Sheger Ketema courtesy of a goal from Abenet Tesfaye.

Sidama Coffee registered a big win with a 4–1 routing of Wolwalo Adigrat University. Veteran striker Getaneh Kebede was on target as Hawassa Ketema beat Diredawa Ketema 2–0. Arsi Negelle and Arbaminch Ketema played out a 1–1 draw in the other fixture.

The league has signed a two-year broadcast rights deal with the Oromia Broadcasting Network, under which 250 games will receive live coverage during the new campaign.

Ethiopian Premier League: Matchday 1 Results and Fixtures

Wolwalo Adigrat University 1-4 Sidama Coffee

Diredawa Ketema 0-2 Hawassa Ketema

Fasil Kenema vs. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (Sunday)

Mechal vs. Wolayta Dicha (Sunday)

Group B

Ethio-Electric 1-0 Sheger Ketema

Arsi Negelle 1-1 Arbaminch Ketema

Ethiopian Coffee vs. Saint George (Sunday)