2016–17 Ethiopian Premier League

Ethiopian Premier League

Season	2016–17
Champions	Saint George SC (25th title)
Relegated	Jimma Aba Buna F.C. Ethiopia Nigd Bank Addis Abeba Kenema
CAF Champions League	Saint George SC
Confederation Cup	Dedebit
Top goalscorer	Getaneh Kebede (25)
← 2015–16 2017–18 →

The 2016–17 Ethiopian Premier League is the 70th season of top-tier football in Ethiopia as well as the 19th season of the Premier League. The season began play on 12 November 2016.^[1] Saint George SC are the defending champions, having won their 25th championship.

The top flight has been expanded to 16-teams up from 14,^[2] and is expected to be more competitive and exciting with more matches to play. The bottom three finishers will be relegated to the Ethiopian Super League for 2017-18.^[3]

Teams

A total of 16 teams will contest the league, including 12 sides from the 2015–16 season and four promoted from the Ethiopian Higher League. The four newcomers are Fasil Kenema F.C.
Jimma Aba Buna F.C., Addis Ababa City F.C. and Woldia City.

Dashen Beer FC and Hadiya Hossana FC were the last two teams of the 2015–16 season and play in the Ethiopian Super League for the 2016-17 season. Saint George SC are the defending champions from the 2015–16 season. [1]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Kedus Giorgis (C)	30	18	8	4	49	20	+29	62	2018 CAF Champions League
2	Dedebit	30	13	12	5	36	22	+14	51	2018 CAF Confederation Cup
3	Adama Kenema	30	13	12	5	27	17	+10	51
4	Sidama Bunna	30	13	10	7	30	22	+8	49
5	Ethiopia Bunna	30	12	12	6	36	25	+11	48
6	Fasil Kenema F.C.	30	12	7	11	32	30	+2	43
7	Woldya Kenema	30	9	10	11	18	20	−2	37
8	Mekelakeya	30	8	13	9	24	35	−11	37
9	Welayta Dicha	30	9	9	12	24	30	−6	36
10	Awassa Kenema	30	9	8	13	35	37	−2	35
11	Dire Dawa Kenema	30	8	11	11	21	29	−8	35
12	Arba Minch Kenema	30	6	16	8	25	32	−7	34
13	Mebrat Hayl (EEPCO)	30	6	15	9	23	24	−1	33
14	Jimma Aba Buna F.C. (R)	30	7	11	12	18	22	−4	32	Relegation to 2017-18 Ethiopian Higher League
15	Ethiopia Nigd Bank (R)	30	7	10	13	27	38	−11	31
16	Addis Abeba Kenema (R)	30	4	8	18	17	39	−22	20

Updated to match(es) played on 24 June 2017. Source: [2] [3]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) total goals; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

References

1. Ethiopia 2016/17, RSSSF.com
2. "Federation Announces EPL Fixtures | the Reporter Ethiopia | Ethiopian News". 24 September 2016.
3. "New look Ethiopian Premier League ready for kick-off". 23 September 2016.