Ethiopian Premier League: Hawassa draw, Sidama Coffee keep momentum

Week 25 of the 2025/26 CBE Ethiopian Premier League saw Sidama Coffee strengthen their lead at the top. Second-placed Hawassa Ketema were held to a draw, while Saint George and Ethiopian Coffee recorded big wins. The top flight is being played in Addis Ababa and Hawassa as it returns from the international break.

Unstoppable Sidama Coffee are on the right track to lift their maiden Ethiopian league title. They defeated Mekele 70 Enderta 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Abel Yalew. Yalew ran behind the Mekele defense to score the crucial goal in the 26th minute. Sidama Coffee are now seven points clear at the top. Yalew also tops the scoring chart with 11 goals.

Hawassa Ketema failed to close the gap on Sidama Coffee following their dramatic 2-2 draw against Wolwalo Adigrat University. Biruk Yared opened the scoring for the Lakers in the first half, but two late goals from Netsanet Gebremedhin and Dawit Gebru turned the result around for the Yellows. Veteran midfielder Shemeles Bekele restored parity deep into injury time.

Negelle Arsi ended their five-game winless run with a superb 2-1 win over Adama Ketema. Dawit Tefera and Rohobot Selalo scored for the newcomers, while Dawa Hotessa netted for Adama.

Saint George ended their eight-game winless run with a 2-1 victory over Hadiya Hosaina. With financial support from MIDROC Investment Group, BGI Ethiopia, and the Addis Ababa City Administration, the Ethiopian giants managed to pay their players five months of owed salaries.

This development boosted the players’ morale as they edged Hadiya Hosaina 2-1. Yeabsera Gossaye and Fuad Abdella scored for the Horsemen, though Gossaye also scored an own goal during the match.

Elsewhere, Ethiopian Coffee secured a 1-0 win over reigning champions Ethiopian Insurance, thanks to a long-range strike from Biniyam Getachew.

Standings update: Sidama Coffee top the table with 48 points, while Hawassa Ketema sit second with 41 points. Negelle Arsi are third, also with 41 points. Ethiopian Coffee are seventh with 35 points. Saint George, Shire Midere Genet, Mekele 70 Enderta, and Arbaminch Ketema remain in the relegation zone.

Ethiopian Premier League Week 25 Results

Ethio Electric 0-0 Bahir Dar Ketema

Dire Dawa Ketema 0-0 Fasil Kenema

Sheger Ketema 1-2 Arbaminch Ketema

Mechal 1-1 Shire Midere Genete

Hadiya Hosaina 1-2 Saint George

Wolayta Dicha 0-0 Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

Ethiopian Insurance 0-1 Ethiopian Coffee

Mekele 70 Enderta 0-1 Sidama Coffee

Adama Ketema 1-2 Negelle Arsi

Hawassa Ketema 2-2 Wolwalo Adigrat University

Match Highlights

Mekele vs Sidama Coffee

Hawassa Ketema vs Wolwalo

Adama Ketema vs Negelle

Hadiya Hosaina vs Saint George

Ethiopian Insurance vs Ethiopian Coffee

Mechal vs Midere Genet Shire

Sheger Ketema vs Arbaminch Ketema

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe is in excellent form, having recently won his third consecutive Man of the Match award.

The 31-year-old joined Amakhosi this season as a free agent, and despite facing early challenges, he has persevered and become one of the team’s standout players.

Maboe played a crucial role in helping the Glamour Boys come from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Orbit College, marking their third straight win in the league.

So far in 2026, he has received a total of four Man of the Match awards while playing for Kaizer Chiefs. Maboe’s impressive performances have garnered praise from both Chiefs fans and coaches alike.

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef emphasized the importance of staying grounded after another win, stating that the team’s objective is to take it one day at a time.

“I think from the beginning of the season, we’re saying that we’re managing every game like a cup game, we’re managing each game game-by-game, we don’t want to put a lot of pressure on our players, we have a lot of young players also,” he said after the Orbit game.

“So, we have to keep them and protect them, I think the target in the team it’s the same – managing game-by-game now this game is finish.”

Can Maboe continue with his form for Chiefs?

Maboe’s form has allowed the likes of Wandile Duba and Mduduzi Shabalala to shine in the past few weeks.

Having struggled for most part of the season, Duba has now scored in consecutive matches having returned to the starting lineup.

Amakhosi will next be in action at home against TS Galaxy at the FNB Stadium this coming weekend. All eyes will be on Maboe has he seeks to push Chiefs closer to the CAF Confederation spot.

Does Maboe deserve a call-up?

One can’t help feeling that if the Stormers-Toulon Champions Cup last-16 match had been played at a different venue, or overseen by a different referee, the result might have been different.

The Cape side and their fans can feel let down by referee Christophe Ridley and the TMO, after a string of decisions went against them in the final eight minutes in front of a hostile crowd in Toulon, including a disallowed try that could have won the game.

Toulon controlled 55% possession and 62% territory and dominated large spells of general play, but the Stormers stayed in the contest throughout and led twice. They especially turned up the heat after Toulon went down to 14 and then 13 men for ill-discipline late on.

Stormers aggrieved

In the closing stages, prop Ntuthuko Mchunu crashed over the line, but the TMO ruled a marginal knock-on.

Moments later, Toulon’s Matthias Halagahu was yellow-carded for entering a Stormers maul illegally, which collapsed metres from the try line. Stormers boss John Dobson later said that that would have been a penalty try on any day in the URC.

When the Stormers struck again, lock Adré Smith appeared to be on the ball, though it was obscured, as Toulon defenders attempted to hold him up. Ridley referred the incident to the TMO, initially ruling that they had held the ball up.

The TMO could not confirm grounding, resulting in a no-try decision.

Replays also suggested Toulon flanker Charles Ollivon was offside at the point of pick-up, but Ridley ruled he had been behind the try line.

Dobson said he believed Smith had scored but understood the lack of clear evidence for a grounding. However, he was baffled as to why the referee did not give the Stormers an advantage for the obvious offside, though players protested.

Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu felt the Stormers “could have been a lot more fortunate with some of the calls”. Loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani said experience in France had taught him that 50/50 decisions often go against visiting teams.

One has to wonder whether the hostile atmosphere at Stade Mayol and the referee’s background determined the result.

Would the decisions have been different if the match had been played outside France, or if a different referee had taken charge?

Le Bayern Munich peut s’appuyer sur deux joueurs expérimentés et emblématiques : Joshua Kimmich et Manuel Neuer. Ensemble, ils cumulent plus de 1000 apparitions sous le maillot bavarois, symbole de leur engagement et de leur fidélité au club. Des statistiques impressionnantes Joshua Kimmich, milieu de terrain polyvalent, a disputé près de 550 matchs pour le Bayern, marqué plus d’une trentaine de buts et délivré de nombreuses passes décisives. Il a remporté plusieurs titres avec le club, dont la Ligue des Champions 2020. Manuel Neuer, gardien titulaire, a quant à lui joué plus de 500 rencontres, remportant également la Ligue des Champions 2020. Son expérience et ses performances font de lui un pilier de l’équipe depuis de nombreuses années. Un duo clé pour le Bayern Kimmich et Neuer forment un duo essentiel pour le Bayern. Leur expérience dans les grandes rencontres, notamment en Ligue des Champions, contribue fortement au succès du club. Ensemble, ils représentent l’un des binômes les plus solides et influents du football mondial.

L’article Bayern Munich : Kimmich et Neuer, un duo de légende avec plus de 1000 matchs à eux deux est apparu en premier sur AfricaFootUnited.

The European season builds toward a thrilling crescendo as the quarterfinal first legs arrive across UEFA’s three major club competitions – UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. With heavyweight clashes and compelling underdog narratives, the coming midweek slate promises drama, intensity and defining moments.

In the UEFA Champions League, all eyes will be drawn to the blockbuster meeting between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. This is a fixture steeped in history, pitting two of Europe’s most decorated clubs against one another once more.

Bayern striker Harry Kane captured the magnitude of the occasion: “It’s going to be a big game for sure. Bayern Munich against Real Madrid, two of the biggest teams in Europe, in the quarter-finals. We’ll prepare like we do for every game. We’ll look at their strengths and weaknesses and try to exploit them. We have a way of playing that doesn’t change much, no matter who we play. It’ll be no different in the quarter-finals.”

With both sides boasting elite attacking talent and vast experience, fine margins could decide the tie.

Elsewhere, Sporting CP take on Arsenal in what shapes as a fascinating tactical duel. Arsenal’s return to Europe’s latter stages has been marked by composure and control, but Sporting’s energy and attacking verve make them dangerous opponents, particularly on home soil.

Another all-Spanish showdown sees Barcelona face Atletico Madrid. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick struck a cautious tone ahead of the tie: “The next round also looks like it will be very difficult. We have to go step by step, match by match; that’s what we did last season and will do again.” Atletico’s defensive resilience and counterattacking threat ensure this will be a tightly contested affair.

Meanwhile, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain renew hostilities with Liverpool in a high-stakes rematch. PSG are aiming to eliminate Liverpool for the second successive season, and their blend of attacking flair and big-game experience makes them formidable. Liverpool, however, will be driven by revenge and their own European pedigree.

In the UEFA Europa League, attention turns to Bologna against Aston Villa. Bologna’s rise has been one of the stories of the season, but Villa arrive with continental ambition and a squad capable of going deep. The clash promises an intriguing contrast in styles and experience.

Equally compelling is Porto versus Nottingham Forest. Forest’s European adventure comes amid a difficult domestic campaign, with the club embroiled in a relegation battle in the Premier League.

Head coach Vítor Pereira remains optimistic: “When we win, the spirit and energy is different. The boys deserve it, because they are a fantastic group. I don’t have any doubt that we have the quality to achieve our targets. I want to thank our supporters, because they deserve to keep going in this Europa League.” Porto’s pedigree in European competition ensures a stern test.

In the UEFA Conference League, Crystal Palace meet Fiorentina in a tie shaped by contrasting pressures. Palace are enjoying a memorable European run, while Fiorentina are battling relegation concerns in Serie A.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner acknowledged the challenge: “A huge achievement. Our next competitive game is against Fiorentina. We will have a few days off, many of the players will go to their national teams, and then we will prepare, we will have a friendly to get back in the rhythm. Hopefully, our European journey continues.”

Across all three competitions, the stakes are immense. With first-leg advantages crucial, expect bold approaches, tactical nuance and moments of brilliance as Europe’s elite chase continental glory.

UEFA Champions League, Quarterfinal, first legs

Tuesday, 7 April

21:00: Real Madrid v Bayern Munich – LIVE on SuperSport Variety, SuperSport GOtv Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

21:00: Sporting CP v Arsenal – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1

Wednesday, 8 April

21:00: Barcelona v Atletico Madrid – LIVE on SuperSport Variety, SuperSport GOtv Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

21:00: PSG v Liverpool – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1

UEFA Europa League, Quarterfinal, first legs

Wednesday, 8 April

18:45: Braga v Real Betis – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 360

Thursday, 9 April

21:00: Freiburg v Celta Vigo – LIVE on SuperSport Variety and SuperSport Africa 2

21:00: Bologna v Aston Villa – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport GOtv Football and SuperSport Maximo 2

21:00: Porto v Nottingham – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport GOtv Premier League, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport Maximo 360

UEFA Conference League, Quarterfinal, first legs

Thursday, 9 April

21:00: Crystal Palace v Fiorentina – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

The post Catch blockbuster 2025/26 UEFA Champions League and Europa League quarterfinals on SuperSport – only on DStv & GOtv appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.