FIFA has called on the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) to hold its elections by no later than 3rd June 2018. The term of the current EFF office ended on 10th October 2017.
But before then, the world’s football body wants EFF to convene an extraordinary general assembly to adopt an electoral code, elect a new electoral commission and a new appeals committee.
The polls have been postponed four times previously amidst persistent wrangles over the electoral process – perceived by some quarters as skewed towards the incumbent president Juneidi Basha. After the last postponement in March, the electoral committee’s chairperson Zerihun Mekonnen sought FIFA’s intervention to help build consensus.
The Zurich based body sent an assessment mission on 12th May which heard from stakeholders including four candidates for the top seat and came up with the above directives. The mission noted that “the current situation of the EFF is not conducive for the holding of a fully democratic and independent election of the EFF executive committee in accordance with requirements of FIFA.”
“In particular, the members of the electoral committee and the members of the electoral appeals committee appear to have a direct stake in the outcome of the elections, since they are at the same time representatives of the EFF members that will be voting at the electoral general assembly.” FIFA now wants to be consulted by EFF in every step they make implanting the reforms. In future they want EFF statutes to be changed to conform to requirements of the FIFA statutes.

After winning eleven in a row Baherdar finished the first round of the 2018 Ethiopian Super League on top of the sixteen team table. Shere-Endaselassie and Addis Ababa came in second and third respectively, separated only by goal differences.
A goal less away draw with rival Addis Ababa over the weekend caped a great run for Baherdar as they appear to be a strong contender for  promotion.  They now boast an impressive record of 32 points from nine wins, five draws and an one defeat at the hands of Burayu.  Hammering in 24 goals while conceding only nine, Baherdar’s only shortcoming seems to be the lack of a designated striker capable of producing goals.Three players scored half of Baherdar’s 24 goals. Wosenu Ali, SaleamlakTegne and EndaleKebede each had four.  Muluken Tariku and FikremichaelAlemu both have six. “Baherdar needs a match winner accomplished striker,” a critic suggested. “In the second round they go against important rivals:  Shere-Endeselassie, Addis Ababa, Burayu and Sebeta at home, still they seem like they have the best shot of the automatic promotion bid,” a critic said. Shere and Addis Ababa each collected 30 points and are rubbing shoulders at the runner up spot with only a single goal difference. Shere has 11 goals while Addis ten. Shere  has scored thirteen goals in the last five matches and they hammered Federal Police 5-2. They hope to become Tigray’s third representative next to Mekele and Welwalo – Adigrat. Former Premier League side Addis Ababa is the other strong side in quest of promotion.

Ethio-Electric snapped a five game winless streak by beating Arbaminch, meaning they are temporarily out of the relegation zone. Dedebit has now lost two out of three but remains in first place and Ethiopia Bunna won at home over Mekelakya.
Once again Ghanaian goal machine Al-Hasen Kalusha was on target and Ethio-Electric returned home with a vital 1-0 victory over Tesgaye K/Mariams Arbaminch, which now sits in last place.
The win meant a lot to head coach Ashenafi Bekele, as the former two time champions are struggling to find form. After losing 1-0 to Hawassa on Wednesday, Dedebit’s title contention is in danger. Hawassa deserved to win the game and the ‘Blues’ are still on top of the table with 32 points but other teams are closing in and the form of their star striker  Getaneh Kebede is in question.
Ethiopia is on a three game winning streak and has shot to second place after a 2-0 victory over Mekelakya.
Eyasu Tameru and Nigerian Sannumi scored and Ethiopia Bunna now has 29 points from 18 matches. With Ethiopia Bunna joining the title race, the league season is expected to fire up to a new momentum.
Bereket Yishak and Yosef Damuye are on the score sheet and Diredawa hammered visitors Woldya 2-0 thanks to Baye Gezahgne’s double strike; Sidama Bunna won 2-0 at home to breath easy. The much expected clash in Gondor between home side Fasil and visitors Jimma AbaJifar ended in a goal less draw thus AbaJifar stays third in goal differences. Mekele versus Saint George and Adama against Wolayta Dicha were postponed due to international matches.

A two nil defeat in front of home crowds over the week end, Ethiopian U-20 head coach Atnafu Alemu’s campaign to book a place in the African U-20 AFCON qualifier for Niger 2019 is in jeopardy. “My players had done everything they were told and up to their capacity, but the visitors were too much to harness. I will take full accountability for the poor result,” Atnafu told reporters after the first leg home defeat.
A third minute hand gift after a goal keeper blunder, the visitors with an extra boldness went  forward abandoning their initial game plan of going back home sharing a point. Taking the risk of going forward gave Brundi the all-important second goal in the 22nd minute once again goalie Tsion’s failing to clear a corner kick.
Though the home players dominated in ball possession through short passes, they barely managed to go past the athletic and disciplined defensive lines. A two goal scoring effort at the final minutes of the game were the only chances created by the home side with most of the squad members hardly challenging  the visitors in body contacts and air balls. Add to that the blunder from inexperienced goalie Tsion Mered, the defeat was nothing to complain about except hard work and attention to youth football. According to some suggestions Atnafu’s game plan was to cautiously dominate the game through ball possession. But conceding that early goal disrupted every communication with his players. That shocking goal triggered a disarrayed play including long balls from central defense with no avail.
The return leg takes place in Brundi-Ngozi after three weeks and a slippery high hill to Ethiopian U-20 to turn around the result.