Dire Dawa gets crucial win over Sidama Coffee

 Dire Dawa earned a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Sidama Coffee at the Dire Dawa International Stadium with Muhedin Musa scoring from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime.

Bereket Samuel hit a long-range shot from a freekick for Dire Dawa in the 14th minute, but Fikre Wedesa dealt with it well. This was followed by another long-range shot from Awot Gebremikael, who rattled the crossbar.

Dire Dawa's pressure paid off in the 44th minute when Sunday Mutuku, Sidama's defender, was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area, though he was moving his hands behind him as Surafel Getachew tried to get past.

Muhidin stepped up and sent Wedesa the wrong way to make it 1-0 just before halftime.

The second half began with Dire Dawa still on top and Getachew almost made it 2-0 with a freekick which Wedesa fumbled but recovered in time to prevent the goal.

Sidama then created two good chances for their star striker, Okiki Afolabi, who in the 79th and 82nd minute rattled the goalkeeper, Abiyu Kassaye but that attacking effort was not enough as it finished 1-0 to Dire Dawa.

Sidama still hover over the bottom two of Jimma Aba Jifar and Adama Kenema in 11th position with 17 points, but Dire Dawa moves just above them to 10th on 20 points.

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