Dejach Wube captured the historic “Babe Cap” neighborhood football championship title on Sunday afternoon, defeating Guto Meda 2–1 in an intense and emotionally charged final match at the Addis Ababa University Business Faculty ground.
The tournament, which drew massive crowds over the past two months at Guto Meda, concluded with widespread community celebration, reviving the decades-old tradition of neighborhood football in the capital.
The tournament was organized to honor the legacy of the late legendary youth coach Fekadu Mamuye (Babe), who was renowned 25 years ago for scouting and developing elite talent for major Ethiopian clubs and the national team.
Reflecting the profound impact of his grassroots initiatives, a poignant pre-match moment of silence was observed by thousands of spectators, followed by an emotional presentation of a memorial photograph to Coach Fekadu’s sister, moving the stadium audience.
Featuring 12 adult teams divided into two competitive groups and five youth teams, the tournament launched with an opening fixture between Addis Gebeya and Asco. The multi-week competition saw high turnouts and passionate local rivalries, most notably the highly attended derby between Kechene and Zebegna Sefer, which showcased a fresh wave of emerging young football talents.
During the final match, Dejach Wube established early dominance through star player Abel Tariku, who netted two spectacular long-range goals from outside the penalty box to secure a comfortable 2–0 lead. Dejach Wube maintained their tactical advantage, neutralizing their opponents’ offensive maneuvers and controlling the tempo of the game deep into the second half.
Guto Meda mounted a resilient late-game comeback attempt and were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a crucial penalty kick in the closing minutes of regulation time. However, the team failed to convert the spot-kick, squandering their best opportunity to equalize and shift the momentum before a subsequent red card forced them to play the remaining minutes with 10 men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Guto Meda managed to score a goal during injury time, but Dejach Wube held on through the final whistle to secure the 2–1 victory.
The highly competitive match was marred by frequent fouls, player altercations, and repeated arguments with the referee, highlighting the intense neighborhood rivalries and occasional lapses in sportsmanship.
The event concluded with individual accolades, naming Guto Meda’s Abel top scorer with nine goals, Dejach Wube’s Abel Tariku tournament MVP, Elias best goalkeeper, and Temesgen top coach, while Tesfa Zebegna Sefer won the youth division.
The organizing committee—led by Solomon, Tedla, Mengistu, Fitsum, and Fisseha—alongside security personnel and local sponsors, received official certificates of recognition for successfully managing the community tournament.