Ethiopian Premier League relegation battle heats up after Week 33

Photo: Ethiopian Premier League

The relegation battle of the Ethiopian Premier League has become more interesting and enticing after the defeat of Fasil Kenema in week 33. A win for Mekele 70 Enderta boosted their hopes for a last attempt at survival.

Fasil Kenema suffered a huge 3-0 defeat at the hands of Wolayta Dicha in Adama. The Bees of Tona took the lead before half-time through Mesay Solomon. Zelalem Abate’s late brace sealed the win as the Emperors find themselves in a relegation battle with three games to spare.

Fasil Kenema coach Wubetu Abate is in his second season at the club, and results have not been going their way. They are 14th with 38 points. Ethiopian Cup finalists Wolayta Dicha are fifth with 45 points.

Mekele 70 Enderta scored in the second half to edge Sidama Coffee 1-0. Ghanaian second-half substitute Benjamin Afutu Kotey headed home from a corner to hand the North Ethiopians a crucial three points. Mekele 70 Enderta are still 15th with 37 points. Sidama Coffee remains fourth with 46 points.

Ethio Electric and reigning champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia played out a goalless draw in the other relegation dogfight. The result left both sides still in the relegation battle. CBE occupy 11th with 40 points, while Electric are 13th, two points adrift.

Sihul Shire and Wolwalo Adigrat University have already been relegated. Two other teams will be relegated as the top flight downsizes the number of participating teams to 16. The decision taken by the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) to reinstate the three Tigray-based clubs (Mekele 70 Enderta, Sihul Shire, and Wolwalo Adigrat University) raised the number of participating clubs to 19. Nonetheless, the demotion of Wolkite Ketema for failing to meet the EFF club licensing requirements reduced the league to 18 clubs this season.

Week 33 Results

Adama Ketema 2-0 Bahirdar Ketema

Arbaminch Ketema 1-0 Ethiopian Coffee

Diredawa Ketema 1-3 Wolwalo Adigrat University

Ethiopian Insurance 0-0 Saint George

Sihul Shire 1-5 Hawassa Ketema

Mekele 70 Enderta 1-0 Sidama Coffee

Fasil Kenema 0-3 Wolayta Dicha

Hadiya Hosaina 1-1 Mechal

Ethio-Electric 0-0 Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

League Table (31 games played)

	Points
Ethiopian Insurance	64
Ethiopian Coffee	55
Bahirdar Ketema	48
Sidama Coffee	46
Wolayta Dicha	45
Mechal	44
Hawassa Ketema	44
Saint George	44
Hadiya Hosaina	44
Arbaminch Ketema	42
CBE	40
Diredawa Ketema	39
Ethio Electric	38
Fasil Kenema	38
Mekele	37
Adama Ketema	35
Sihul Shire	22
Wolwalo	19

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

Week 34 Fixtures

Arbaminch Ketema vs Saint George

Sihul Shire vs Adama Ketema

Mekele 70 Enderta vs Ethiopian Coffee

Wolwalo Adigrat University vs Hawassa Ketema

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia vs Hadiya Hosaina

Ethiopian Insurance vs Mechal

Ethio Electric vs Fasil Kenema

Sidama Coffee vs Diredawa Ketema

Wolayta Dicha vs Bahirdar Ketema