Ethiopian Premier League: Addis Ababa excluded again as matches moved to Adama
- Omna Taddele
- 8 hours ago
- 1 min read
The Ethiopian Premier League Share Company (EPLSC) has confirmed that league games will not be hosted in Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian capital last hosted league matches four seasons ago.
The league is currently being played in Hawassa but after Week 31 until the final round it will be moved to Adama, the EPLSC confirmed in an official statement. Dire Dawa and Hawassa expressed interest in hosting the remaining games but the league decided to make Adama the final venue of the season. The Adama Science and Technology University Stadium will host the matches.
This new development means Addis Ababa is once again deprived of hosting league matches. EPLSC General Manager Kifele Seyefe previously stated that the league had plans to return games to Addis Ababa, but no agreement was reached with the relevant authorities.
Of the eighteen clubs competing in the top flight, six are based in Addis Ababa. Capital city giants Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee have missed out on ticket sales revenue due to restrictions imposed by the authorities on hosting games in Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has hosted second-division and third-division games in the capital. Nonetheless, close sources familiar with the matter who requested anonymity told Pan-Africa Football that the Addis Ababa City Administration is opposed to any plans to return league games to the capital. The sources claimed the administration views potential hooliganism at the stadium as a major threat.
