In a major blow to Sidama Coffee, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the appeal from the Ethiopian side to revoke the decision made by the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) in June. The EFF stripped Sidama Coffee of their 2025 Ethiopian Cup glory and the club appealed the decision.

The Hawassa-based club filed a complaint to CAS, stating they were illegally stripped of their crown and asked CAS to reverse the decision. The EFF stripped Sidama Coffee of the title over a third-party payment for players during the 2024 summer transfer window. The Ethiopian Premier League Share Company had penalized the club a few months ago over illicit third-party payments.

Sidama Coffee continued to use the suspended players, and it ultimately came at a cost. The 2025 Ethiopian Cup winner is now Wolayta Dicha. The Sodo-based club will represent Ethiopia in the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup.

Sidama Coffee and their fans had high hopes for the case after it was taken up by CAS. Now the club will be forced to return the title to the EFF. The club had previously claimed they won the title fair and square. Nonetheless, the new decision will definitely put an end to the months-long saga in Ethiopian football.

(PAN-AFRICA FOOTBALL)