Ethiopian Higher League


The Ethiopian Higher League, is the second division of association football in Ethiopia. Regulated by the Ethiopian Football Federation, the league is divided into three groups with 12 clubs in each group. It operates on a system of promotion and relegation along with the Ethiopian Premier League and the Ethiopian First League. The champions of Group A, B, and C will be automatically promoted to the Premier League. The bottom two teams of each respective group at seasons end will be relegated to the First League, the third division of Ethiopian football.

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 Ethiopian Football Federation restructured the league into two groups A and B in the 2015/16 season. Group A comprises clubs from northern and central Ethiopia and Group B comprises clubs from Southern Ethiopia.
Fasil Kenema were crowned champions of the league after the 2015-16 season.
Bahir Dar Kenema and Debub Police S.C. were automatically promoted to the 2018-19 Ethiopian Premier League after the winning their respective groups. 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.

Teams

2019-20 Season

The following 32 clubs will compete in the Higher League during the 2019-20 season.
Group A
Group B
Group C