Abubeker Nasir leaves Mamelodi Sundowns to relaunch career in Ethiopia

Ethiopian striker Abubeker Nasir has joined Mechal Sport Club after an injury-disrupted spell at Mamelodi Sundowns brought limited opportunities in South Africa to an end.

The 26-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Ethiopian Premier League club, who are also known as Defence Force Sport Club. Mechal Sport Club are an army team and finished third in the Ethiopian top flight last season.

The move will take Nasir back to familiar surroundings as he attempts to revive a career that once placed him among the leading figures in Ethiopian football. His time at Sundowns, however, was heavily affected by injuries and he made only 17 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.

Nasir initially agreed to join The Brazilians in January 2022, but spent the following six months on loan at Ethiopian Coffee. He eventually moved to Chloorkop in July of that year.

The temporary switch to Ethiopian Coffee was regarded as a major deal for the club. Its then president, Fekade Mamo, told KickOff that Nasir’s transfer represented the biggest in the club’s history.

His most productive period with Sundowns came during the 2022/23 campaign, his first season at the club. He scored four goals in 14 matches, but was unable to build on that contribution because of recurring injury problems.

Nasir’s final appearance for Sundowns came in December 2023, when he played 45 minutes against Cape Town Spurs. He did not feature again for the Tshwane club before beginning a series of loan moves.

He subsequently joined SuperSport United on loan, although he was deregistered halfway through the 2024/25 season. Last term, he spent another spell away from Sundowns with University of Pretoria, where injuries again restricted his involvement.

KickOff understands that Mechal Sport Club have now completed the move for the forward. Their resources and third-place finish last season provide Nasir with an opportunity to return to regular football in Ethiopia.

Before leaving for South Africa, Nasir had established himself as a major star in Ethiopian football. His transfer to Sundowns was expected to represent an important step in his career, but his time with the club ultimately produced far fewer matches than he would have hoped.

The two-year agreement with Mechal Sport Club gives him a fresh start after a prolonged period in which his progress was repeatedly interrupted by fitness setbacks.