Ethiopian Premier League Matchday 36: Defensive Dominance and Away Victories Steal the Spotlight
The Ethiopian Premier League delivered another tightly contested matchday, with ten fixtures producing just eleven goals across the league. The pattern that emerged was unmistakable: defences were well organised throughout, with five of the ten matches ending in goalless draws. Ethiopia Nigd Bank, Awassa Kenema, Mekelle Kenema, and Suhul Shire all earned valuable points without breaching their opponents' backlines, while the remaining stalemates ensured the points were shared in tightly contested encounters.
Two clubs enjoyed productive afternoons on their travels. Mebrat Hayl claimed a 2-1 victory away at Welayta Dicha, a result that arrived against a side that had managed just one point from its previous five fixtures according to analysis from AfricaSoccer.com. Hadiya Hosaena also returned from Welwalo Adigrat Uni with all three points after a narrow 1-0 success. At home, Dire Dawa Kenema and Fasil Ketema both registered comfortable 2-0 victories over Sheger Ketema and Arba Minch Kenema respectively, while Mekelakeya ground out a 1-0 win against Ethiopian Medhin to keep their campaign moving forward.
As the season continues to unfold, Matchday 36 reinforced that consistency and defensive solidity remain paramount in Ethiopian football's top flight. With the schedule progressing toward its conclusion, clubs will need to sharpen their attacking instincts if they are to climb the standings, while those capable of grinding out results away from home hold a distinct advantage in the race for positioning.
A Challenging Day at the Prediction Desk
Matchday 36 delivered a tough afternoon for our prediction models, with the 1X2 column producing just two correct results from ten matches — a meagre 20% success rate. Only two fixtures followed the expected script: Mekelle Kenema and Adama Kenema played out a goalless draw as predicted, while Fasil Ketema defeated Arba Minch Kenema 2-0 to justify the home win selection. Every other fixture confounded expectations, highlighting how unpredictable the Ethiopian Premier League remains at this stage of the campaign.
The standout issue was the abundance of stalemates. Four matches ended in 0-0 draws — Ethiopia Nigd Bank against Ethiopia Bunna, Awassa Kenema versus Bahardar, Mekelle Kenema hosting Adama Kenema, and Suhul Shire facing Kedus Giorgis — yet none of these were anticipated in our 1X2 picks, where away wins and home victories were favoured instead. The sheer volume of defensive stalemates created a graveyard for predictions, particularly those backing either side to claim maximum points. Sidama Bunna and Negelle Arsi also shared the spoils at 1-1, further demonstrating the draw-heavy nature of this matchday.
Despite the struggles in the outright market, the auxiliary predictions proved far more reliable. The Over/Under model delivered a 90% hit rate, correctly identifying low-scoring encounters across almost every fixture given the frequency of zero-goal draws and narrow margins. BTTS performed solidly at 70%, capturing the handful of matches where both sides found the net, such as Sidama Bunna's 1-1 with Negelle Arsi and Welayta Dicha's narrow defeat to Mebrat Hayl. The contrast between the 20% 1X2 accuracy and these secondary metrics underscores the value of supplemental betting angles when the outright call proves elusive.
Surprise Results Dominate Ethiopian Premier League Matchday 36
Matchday 36 of the Ethiopian Premier League delivered a string of unexpected outcomes that confounded the pre-match predictions across four closely contested fixtures. The round saw three results veer away from their forecasted outcomes, with Mebrat Hayl and Dire Dawa Kenema emerging as the unlikely heroes of the weekend. The sole prediction that proved accurate came from Fasil Ketema's comfortable home victory, providing some consolation for those who backed the hosts.
Mebrat Hayl completed a memorable away triumph by defeating Welayta Dicha 2-1 at their opponent's ground. The pre-match assessment had favored Welayta Dicha with a 41% probability of victory, yet Mebrat Hayl demonstrated resilience and clinical finishing to secure all three points. The result marked a significant upset in the context of the season standings, as Welayta Dicha failed to capitalize on home advantage despite being the anticipated winners.
Dire Dawa Kenema recorded an identical 2-0 victory over Sheger Ketema, another result that contradicted the draw prediction which carried a 29% likelihood. The home side controlled proceedings and kept a clean sheet, suggesting defensive discipline alongside attacking intent. This win provides valuable momentum as the season progresses through its mid-point phase.
Fasil Ketema justified their status as favorites with a commanding 2-0 home win against Arba Minch Kenema. The prediction of a home victory at 38% probability proved correct, offering a rare successful forecast in a round characterized by surprises. Meanwhile, Sidama Bunna and Negelle Arsi settled for a 1-1 draw despite Sidama Bunna being backed as probable winners with a 42% chance, highlighting the unpredictable nature of this Matchday 36.
Premier League Standings Take Shape as Run-In Accelerates
With 36 matchdays completed in the 2025/26 Ethiopian Premier League season, the title race appears increasingly settled at the summit. Ethiopian Medhin maintains a dominant 13-point buffer at the top of the table with 73 points, having accumulated 22 wins alongside seven draws and five defeats. Their nearest challengers, Ethiopia Bunna, sit on 60 points and hold a mathematical advantage over the chasing pack, though their nine defeats this campaign suggest they may struggle to mount a serious challenge for top spot.
The battle for European qualification spots remains intensely competitive. Bahardar occupies third place on 54 points, just one point ahead of fourth-placed Awassa Kenema. Sidama Bunna and Welayta Dicha lurk within striking distance, separated by a single point and both harbouring realistic ambitions of breaking into the top four. With three matchdays remaining, the race for continental football places could go down to the wire.