Ethiopian Higher League

The Ethiopian Higher League (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ከፍተኛ ሊግ), also called the Ethiopian Super League, is the second division of association football in Ethiopia. Regulated by the Ethiopian Football Federation, the league is divided into three groups (Group A, Group B, and Group C) with 12 clubs in each group. It operates on a system of promotion and relegation along with the Ethiopian Premier League (first division) and the Ethiopian First League (third division). The champions of Group A, B, and C will be automatically promoted to the Premier League. The bottom two teams (11th and 12th) of each respective group at the season's end will be relegated to the First League, the third division of Ethiopian football.

Ethiopian Higher League
Country Ethiopia (32 teams)
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams36
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toEthiopian Premier League
Relegation toEthiopian First League
Domestic cup(s)Ethiopian Cup
Ethiopian Super Cup
Current championsSebeta City
Wolkite City
Hadiya Hossana FC
(2020–21)
Current: 2022–23 Ethiopian Higher League

History

After the 2016-17 season, Welwalo Adigrat University earned promotion to the Premier League by winning group A on 68 points with Mekelle City coming in second at 60 points. Jimma City won group B on 53 points and also earned promotion to the top league with Hadiya Hossana finishing second on 53 points. Mekelle City and Hadiya Hossana played in a one-game playoff to decide the third and final promotion out of the league, the game was won by Mekelle City (the club's first promotion into the Ethiopian Premier League).[1]

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) restructured the league into two groups A and B in the 2015/16 season.[2] Group A comprises clubs from northern and central Ethiopia and Group B comprises clubs from Southern Ethiopia.[2]

Fasil Kenema were crowned champions of the league after the 2015-16 season.[3]

Bahir Dar Kenema and Debub Police S.C. were automatically promoted to the 2018-19 Ethiopian Premier League after winning their respective groups.[4] Shire Endaselassie became the third and last club to be promoted to the 2018-19 Ethiopian Premier League after beating Jimma Aba Buna in a playoff match in Hawassa.[5]

During the 2020-21 season, some team were for forced to forfeit their matches due to unpaid payments to the league.[6]

Teams

2020–21 season

The following 32 clubs will compete in the Higher League during the 2020-21 season.[7][8]

Group A (የምድብ ሀ)

  • Woldia
  • Ethio Electric
  • Legetafo Legedadi
  • Dessie City
  • Semien Shewa Debre Birhan
  • Gelan City
  • Federal Police
  • Dessie City
  • Wollo Kombolcha

Group B (የምድብ ለ)

Group C (የምድብ ሐ)

2020–21 clubs' stadiums

Clubs with stadiums with a capacity of at least 10,000:

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Addis Ababa City F.C. Addis Ababa Addis Ababa Stadium 35,000
Defence Force S.C. Addis Ababa Addis Ababa Stadium 35,000
Ethiopian Insurance F.C. Addis Ababa Addis Ababa Stadium 35,000
Woldia S.C. Weldiya Woldiya Stadium 25,155
Jimma Aba Buna S.C. Jimma Jimma Stadium 15,000
Debub Police S.C. Awassa Awassa Stadium 15,000

References
  1. Tolesa, Dawit (July 22, 2017). "Jimma, Mekele, Welwalo earn EPL promotion". The Reporter Ethiopia.
  2. Osano, Bonface (September 1, 2016). "The Emperors lift inaugural Ethiopian Super Cup". soka25east.
  3. Taddele, Omna (August 31, 2016). "Fasil Ketema Crowned Champions of the Higher League". Soccer Ethiopia.
  4. Genene, Brook (August 27, 2018). "Debub Police Promoted to the Premier League as Jimma Aba Buna secure playoff spot". Soccer Ethiopia.
  5. Gebremariam, Abraham (September 4, 2018). "ሽረ እንዳስላሴ ለመጀመርያ ጊዜ ወደ ፕሪምየር ሊግ አድጓል". Soccer Ethiopia.
  6. Tesfaye, Ameha (April 1, 2021). "የኢትዮጵያ ከፍተኛ ሊግ ሰሞነኛ የትኩረት ነጥቦች". Soccer Ethiopia.
  7. "የኢትዮጵያ ከፍተኛ ሊግ – 2010". Soccer Ethiopia. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  8. "Ethiopian Higher League 2020/21". Soccer Ethiopia. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
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