Defence Force ETH has a special place in Ethiopian football, with 11 league championships and 14 national cup titles. Founded in 1938, the Addis Ababa club has strong ties to the military and is also known as Mekelakeya or Mechal SC. Its long history includes domestic trophies, African competitions and memorable encounters with Saint George, one of its biggest rivals.
The club enjoyed its first great period between 1949 and 1956, when it won six national championships. Another successful era followed in the 1980s, with league titles in 1982, 1984, 1988 and 1989. Defence Force also reached the quarter-finals of the African Cup Winners' Cup in 1976. Its later continental appearances included the CAF Confederation Cup, with matches against clubs from Cameroon and Nigeria.
One particularly memorable occasion came in September 2018, when Defence Force faced Saint George in the Ethiopian Cup final. The match took place at Hawassa International Stadium and remained goalless throughout normal time. Defence Force won the penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Yednekachew making an important save during the contest. That victory secured the club's 14th national cup trophy and a place in the CAF Confederation Cup. More recently, the team finished third in the 2025/26 Ethiopian Premier League, with 57 points from 38 matches.
The long rivalry between Defence Force and Saint George remains an interesting part of Ethiopia's domestic football history. The top sportsbooks in Ethiopia are also worth exploring for football odds, welcome bonuses and promotions for new customers. A closer look at the bookmaker rankings may reveal a good sign-up deal alongside the usual match markets.
Scores24 provides all the essential information about the team: results of past matches, upcoming match schedule, key statistics, player details, and much more.
Current Tournaments
As of today, Defence Force ETH is participating in the following tournaments: Premier League.
Previous Match
The last match took place on 22 October 2026 against Gamo Chencha as part of the Premier League tournament. The match Gamo Chencha - Defence Force ETH ended with a score of 0:1.
On Scores24, you can always find the team's recent match history (statistics, results), both in a specific tournament and overall. Our infographics will help you understand how the team performs over a certain period, how many goals they score and concede, and much more.
Upcoming Match
Defence Force ETH will play their next match away against Ethiopian Medhin as part of the Premier League tournament. The game Ethiopian Medhin - Defence Force ETH will take place on 27 October 2026.
If you're interested in a particular match, you can always add it to your Favorites (click on the bell) and follow the events live. We provide both text or graphic broadcasts, and we also try to offer a video stream to make watching your favorite team even more comfortable.
Statistics for the last 10 matches
During this period, the team has won 4, drawn 2, and lost 4. Goal statistics: goals scored – 9; goals conceded – 9; average goals scored – 0.9; average goals conceded – 0.9. Average at home: scored – 1.2, conceded – 0.6; away: 0.6 scored and 1.2 conceded, respectively.