Ethiopian Premier League: Mekele 70 Enderta boost survival hopes with derby win

Mekele celebrate one of their goal against Sihul Shire. Photo: Ethiopian Premier League

Mekele 70 Enderta registered a decisive win in the race for safety in Week 31 of the Ethiopian Premier League, while late drama saw Fasil Kenema earn a point against Hawassa Ketema.

In a Tigray derby, Mekele 70 Enderta defeated Sihul Shire 2-1. The northern Ethiopian side took the lead through an excellent finish from Bona Ali, but Shire restored parity when Fasil Asmamaw struck from close range.

Mekele secured the win with a crucial goal from Yared Birhanu. They now sit 15th with 33 points, just one point behind 14th-placed Ethio-Electric. The defeat leaves Sihul Shire in 17th, teetering on the edge of relegation.

In the later kickoff, Hawassa Ketema and Fasil Kenema shared the spoils. Ali Sulieman gave the Lakers the lead in the second half as he eyes the top scorer title for the second consecutive season, having scored 14 goals so far.

Veteran Ethiopian striker Getaneh Kebede equalized for the Emperors from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time. Match referee Tewodros Mitiku issued straight red cards to Hawassa striker Isreal Eshetu and Fasil midfielder Habtamu Tekeste for unsportsmanlike behavior shortly after Kebede’s equalizer.

Hawassa Ketema are currently 10th with 38 points, while Fasil Kenema sit in 11th with 37 points.

Week 31 Results

Wolwalo Adigart University 1-1 Arabminch Ketema

Ethiopian Coffee 1-0 Ethiopian Insurance

Diredawa Ketema 2-1 Bahirdar Ketema

Saint George 0-1 Sidama Coffee

Hadiya Hosaina 1-1 Ethio Electric

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia 0-2 Adama Ketema

Wolayta Dicha 1-1 Mechal

Mekele 70 Enderta 2-1 Sihul Shire

Hawassa Ketema 1-1 Fasil Kenema

League Table

	Points
Ethiopian Insurance	60
Ethiopian Coffee	54
Bahirdar Ketema	48
Sidama Coffee	46
Mechal	43
Hadiya Hosaina	43
Wolayta Dicha	42
Saint George	40
CBE	39
Hawassa	38
Fasil Kenema	37
Diredawa Ketema	36
Arbaminch Ketema	36
Ethio Electric	34
Mekele	33
Adama Ketema	29
Sihul Shire	22
Wolwalo	15

• The league champions qualify for the 2025-26 CAF Champions League.

• The Ethiopian Cup champion qualifies for the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup.

• The bottom four teams at the end of the season will be relegated to the Ethiopian Higher League.

Week 32 Fixtures

Ethiopian Insurance vs Sidama Coffee

Bahirdar Ketema vs Arbaminch Ketema

Adama Ketema vs Hadiya Hosaina

Wolwalo Adigrat University vs Ethiopian Coffee

Wolayta Dicha vs Ethio Electric

Sihul Shire vs Saint George

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia vs Diredawa Ketema

Mechal vs Hawassa Ketema

Mekele 70 Enderta vs Fasil Kenema