Ethiopian Premier League: Sidama extend dominance; Saint George boost survival hopes

This week in the 2025/26 CBE Ethiopian Premier League, Sidama Coffee extended its lead to ten points after Negelle Arsi, Mechal, and Hawassa Ketema all dropped points. Saint George boosted their survival hopes with a victory while Mekelle 70 Enderta and Wolwalo Adigrat University registered important wins.

Sidama Coffee comfortably defeated Dire Dawa Ketema 2–0 in Hawassa, creating a ten-point gap at the top of the table. Abel Yalew continued his fine form as he grabbed a second-half brace to hand Sidama Coffee maximum points in front of a huge crowd at Hawassa University Stadium.

Mechal and Hawassa Ketema played out a goalless draw, as both sides dropped two valuable points in the title race. New signing Kitika Jema struck for Negelle Arsi in their 1–1 draw against Hadiya Hosaina in another key fixture. Temsegne Birhanu scored for Hadiya to cancel out Jema’s strike in the second half.

Record Ethiopian champions Saint George recorded their third win in four games after beating the weakened Adama Ketema 1–0. Fitsum Tilahun headed home a corner kick in the second half as the Horsemen ready themselves for the crucial Sheger Derby against cross-city rivals Ethiopian Coffee this Sunday, April 26.

Five bizarre minutes handed Mekelle 70 Enderta a lifeline in their fight for survival as they trounced Fasil Kenema 3–0. The one-time Ethiopian champions scored three unanswered goals between the 55th and 60th minutes to secure the win. Bona Ali scored a brace, while Million Wolde got the other for Mekelle.

In another fixture, goals from Netsanet Gebremedhin and Firew Solomon gave Wolwalo Adigrat University a decisive 2–0 win over Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

Sidama Coffee lead the table with 54 points. Mechal are second with 44 points, followed by Negelle Arsi with the same tally. Ethio Electric leapfrogged Fasil Kenema to sit fifth with 42 points. Saint George climbed to 10th with 35 points. Wolwalo Adigrat University, Dire Dawa Ketema, Ethiopian Insurance, Midere Genet Shire, Mekelle 70 Enderta, and Arbaminch Ketema remain in the relegation fight.

The rescheduled Week 20 fixture between arch-rivals Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee headlines the Ethiopian Premier League this Sunday. Only three points separate the two sides heading into the Sheger Derby. Saint George edged Ethiopian Coffee 1–0 in the first league meeting between the two teams this season.

 

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Ethiopian Premier League Week 28 Results

Fasil Kenema 0-3 Mekele 70 Enderta

Wolwalo Adigrat University 2-0 Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

Ethiopian Coffee 1-1 Arbaminch Ketema

Sidama Coffee 2-0 Dire Dawa Ketema

Negelle Arsi 1-1 Hadiya Hosaina

Mechal 0-0 Hawassa Ketema

Bahir Dar Ketema 0-2 Sheger Ketema

Midere Genet Shire 0-1 Wolayta Dicha

Ethio-Electric 1-1 Ethiopian Insurance

Saint George 1-0 Adama Ketema

Match Highlights

Saint George vs Adama Ketema

Ethio Electric vs Ethiopian Insurance

Bahir Dar Ketema vs Sheger Ketema