Hawassa vs Shashemene Kenema Prediction: Hosts expected to get a narrow

In the upcoming round 17 fixtures of the Ethiopia Premier League, Hawassa is set to face Shashemene Kenema at the Hawassa Kenema Stadium. Leading up to this match, both teams have struggled to maintain consistency throughout the season, and in this particular encounter, they will undoubtedly be seeking a change of fortunes. Let's delve into the preview of this match and make a prediction.

Hawassa is coming off a road defeat against Fasil Kenema, suffering a 2-1 loss. In that match, Hawassa had a promising start, with Tafese Solomon scoring the opening goal in the 41st minute of the first half. However, despite holding their ground until the 76th minute, goals from Amanuel Gebremichael and Kalkidan Zelalem proved decisive, resulting in Fasil Kenema turning the game around. Despite this setback, Hawassa had a positive run in prior encounters, going three matches without a defeat, securing two wins and one draw during that stretch.

Shashemene Kenema put an end to a four-match winless streak by securing a 1-2 victory over Welayta Dicha this time. In that match, Shashemene Kenema demonstrated resilience by coming from behind in the second half after trailing 1-0 at halftime. However, in previous encounters, Shashemene Kenema suffered defeats against Fasil Kenema and Defence Force, and they had draws against Ethiopian Insurance and Dire Dawa. Over their last five matches, Shashemene Kenema scored four goals but conceded six in the same period.

This is more of an uphill battle for both teams, and neither can afford to lose. Although they are anticipated to exert maximum effort for a victory, they will also be careful defensively, striving to avoid falling behind at any moment. Nevertheless, the home team is undoubtedly the stronger side, having emerged victorious even in the away leg of their previous encounter. Consequently, given the anticipated closeness of this match, I predict that Hawassa will secure a win with a few goals.