Ethiopian premier league revenue growth amid

Ethiopian Premier League Revenue Growth Amid Financial Challenges

Analysts report a 12% increase in Ethiopian Premier League revenue despite ongoing club financial difficulties.

By Tesfaye Bekele, sports journalist — East African football correspondent

The Ethiopian Premier League has recorded a 12% year-on-year growth in revenue for the 2023-24 season, according to recent data from the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF). This increase occurs amid persistent financial challenges faced by many clubs, including Saint George (Kidus Giorgis) and Ethiopia Coffee (Buna), which continue to struggle with limited sponsorship and infrastructural deficits.

Revenue figures, released by the league office in Addis Ababa last month, show combined club earnings rising from approximately 400 million Ethiopian Birr (ETB) in 2022 to over 450 million ETB this season. Chief economist at the EFF, Abebe Mekonnen, notes, “While the financial landscape remains difficult, increased media rights sales and a modest rise in match-day attendance have contributed positively.”

Nevertheless, financial stability for clubs is uneven. Saint George, the most successful team historically, reported a wage arrears issue earlier in the season, reflecting broader operational funding difficulties across the league. Adama City and Bahir Dar Kenema also struggle to secure long-term sponsorship contracts, limiting their ability to invest in player development and stadium improvements.

On average, home match attendance per club has improved slightly, with league officials estimating a 5% increase in spectator numbers. This trend partly reflects more engagement through public viewing venues, including cafés and community centres, which are important social hubs for football fans in cities like Addis Ababa and Hawassa. As noted by sports analyst Helen Desta of Addis Ababa University, “The communal culture around football remains strong, which helps maintain and grow interest despite economic constraints.”

However, challenges remain in stadium infrastructure and governance. Several clubs play on older venues with inadequate facilities, impacting both fan experience and revenue generation. Investments remain limited due to economic uncertainties and prioritized government spending elsewhere. Transparency and club governance reforms are ongoing but have yet to significantly alter the financial dynamics.

From a continental perspective, Ethiopian clubs’ performance in CAF competitions continues to attract international attention. Participation in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup provides valuable exposure but also demands additional resources that few clubs can comfortably allocate. As per CAF reports, East African clubs generally allocate less than 20% of their budgets toward continental campaigns, compared to higher investment levels in North and West African teams.

The Ethiopian Premier League’s mixed financial picture highlights the persistence of structural issues in the broader East African football ecosystem. While sponsorship and media rights have seen growth, they remain insufficient to offset longstanding challenges in club management and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the evolving digital payment infrastructure, including services like telebirr and CBE Birr, opens new avenues for ticket sales and merchandise management, though adoption remains in its early stages. According to the Ethiopian Central Bank’s 2023 financial inclusion report, mobile-based payments grew by 18% nationally, offering promising prospects for fan engagement monetization in coming seasons.

Sports desks covering Ethiopian football, such as hulu sport, continue to monitor these trends, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts between the federation, clubs, and government to ensure sustainable growth.

“Addressing club finances is essential for raising the league’s competitive standard and enabling Ethiopian football to capitalize on continental opportunities,” said Yohannes Fikru, a former coach and current analyst with the Ethiopian Coaches Association.

As the league moves toward the mid-season mark, the critical question remains whether Ethiopian football’s financial growth will translate into long-term stability or if systemic challenges will curtail progress. The continuation of reforms and infrastructure investments could prove decisive in shaping the league’s future trajectory.

Tesfaye Bekele writes on Ethiopian and East African football. He has covered regional football developments and league economics for over ten years.