Jimma Aba Jifar Football Club (Amharic: ጅማ አባ ጅፋር; Afaan Oromo: Jimmaa Abbaa Jifaar) is a professional football club based in Jimma, Ethiopia. They play in the Ethiopian Higher League, the second division of Ethiopian football. The club, who was formally known as Jimma City, was promoted to the Ethiopian Premier League for the first time after the end of the 2016–17 season.[1]
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| Full name | Jimma Aba Jifar Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Westerns | ||
| Founded | 1983 | ||
| Ground | Jimma Stadium Jimma, Ethiopia | ||
| Capacity | 15,000 | ||
| Manager |  Zemariam Damtew | ||
| League | Ethiopian Higher League | ||
| 2020-21 | Premier League 12th of 13 | ||
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History edit
The club was founded in 1983 (1975 E.C.). The club finished first in the Ethiopian Higher League (second division) Group B after the 2016/17 season, by virtue earning a promotion to the 2017/18 Ethiopian Premier League. The club has since signed some notable foreign players to the side, including Nigerian striker Okiki Afolabi and Ghanaian Goalkeeper Daniel Agyei.[2]
The club won the 2017/18 Ethiopian Premier League title.[3] Shortly after the 2017–18 season their manager, Gebremedin Haile, left the club to sign with another Premier League club, Mekelle City FC.[4]
The club participated in 2018-19 CAF Champions League as the only representative from Ethiopia. They defeated ASAS Djibouti Télécom 5-3 on aggregate in parliamentary round. However, they made their exit from the tournament in the next round courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Egyptian giants Al-Ahly.[5]
FIFA imposed a transfer ban on club in 2020 for unpaid wages to Ghanaian goalkeeper Daniel Agyei.[6]
Stadium edit
The club plays its matches at Jimma Stadium located in Jimma, Ethiopia. In 2021, Jimma University Stadium was chosen to host matches from week 7 to 11 of the 2020-21 Ethiopian Premier League season.[7]
Honors edit
Domestic edit
- Ethiopian Premier League: 1
- 2018
Continental edit
- CAF Champions League: 1 appearance
- 2018–19 – first round
- CAF Confederations Cup: 1 appearance
- 2018–19 – play-off round
Players edit
First-team squad edit
As of 14 January 2021[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club Officials edit
Coaching Staff edit
- Manager/Head Coach:
Zemariam Damtew - Assistant coach: Yosef Ali
- Goalkeeper coach: Mohamed Jemal
- Team Leader: Jehud Kedir
- Physiotherapist: Senay Yilma
Former Managers edit
- Gebremedin Haile
- Paulos Getachew
References edit
- ^ Tolesa, Dawit (July 22, 2017). "Jimma, Mekele, Welwalo earn EPL promotion". The Reporter Ethiopia.
- ^ David Quartey, Daniel (October 11, 2017). "Confirmed: Ghana's Daniel Agyei Joins Ethiopian Side Jimma Aba Jifar FC". Ghana Crusader. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018.
- ^ Taddele, Omna (July 16, 2018). "Jimma Aba Jifar FC Crowned Champions of Ethiopia". Soccer Ethiopia.
- ^ Hailemariam, Mathias (August 8, 2018). "መቐለ ከተማ ከገብረመድህን ኃይሌ ጋር በይፋ ተፈራረመ". Soccer Ethiopia.
- ^ Berhanu, Markos (December 23, 2018). "CAF Champions League: Jimma Aba Jifar Defeats Al Ahly 1-0". Ethiosports.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: FIFA bans Jimma Aba Jifar FC for three transfer windows over unpaid Daniel Agyei entitlements". Ghanasoccernet. August 11, 2020.
- ^ Tadesse, Dawit (January 14, 2021). "የጅማ ስታዲየም ዝግጅትን በተመለከተ". Hatricksport.
- ^ "Jimma Aba Jifar". Soccer Ethiopia.
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