Ugandan teams have qualified to represent the Zone after winning the boys and girls categories at the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya today.

In the first final Uganda saw off Kenya 2-1 in the girls category played first at the Kasarani Stadium. Later the Ugandan boys team also lifted the title after beating Tanzania 4-2 on penalties after the match had ties 1-1 in normal time.

Lindey Weey Atieno gave Kenya the lead, but Shadia Nabirye and Shaluwah Butini later scored to ensure Uganda takes the trophy home for the first time after coming third last season.

In the boys category Uganda took the lead early in the second half with a well taken free-kick by Ashraf Kyakuwa. But Abel Simon made it 1-1 for Tanzania with few minutes to full time. The Ugandan team converted all their 4 penalty kicks, while Tanzania missed two.

The winners in each category bagged US$100,000, while the first runners-up US$750,000 and the second runners’ up in each category US$50,000. The Zonal qualifiers for CECAFA attracted six teams in the boys category and five in the girls category. The Championship is sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts, Ababu Namwamba was the chief guest. The other guests who graced the finals include; Kenya. Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President, Nick Mwendwa, South Sudan Football Association (SSFA), Augustino Maduot, CAF’s manager for African Schools Programme, Yvonne Namai, Justus Mugisha, the First Vice President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), and FKF Vice President Doris Petra also attended the Awards ceremony.

The curtains will come down on December 13th, 2023 at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi when the CECAFA qualifiers of the CAF African Schools Football Championship concludes with the finals in the boys and girls categories.

In the Girls category the unbeaten team from Uganda with 10 points will face second placed Kenya in the final.

Uganda beat Kenya 1-0 in the final round robin match played on Tuesday with Haira Nabbosa scoring. Uganda had earlier humbled Burundi 4-0 and stopped Rwanda 3-0 to top the log with 10 points.

Before losing to Uganda, the hosts Kenya picked a 2-0 win against Burundi in one of their round robin matches played on Tuesday. Kenya finished second with 9 points, while Tanzania who came third with 7 points will take the bronze medal.

In the boys category Uganda maintained their 100% unbeaten record when they stopped Tanzania 1-0 and followed it up with a hard fought 2-1 victory against Kenya. All Uganda’s goals were netted by Brian Luwagga.

Tanzania who are second on the log with 9 points, three behind table leaders Uganda also registered a 2-0 win against Burundi with Peter Andrew Arbogasti and Juma Mashaka Juma scoring.

The last three matches in the boys category will be played on Wednesday morning. Third placed Kenya with 6 points will take on Burundi, while Rwanda face Uganda, and Tanzania battle Somalia.

The winners in each category will pocket USD100,000 each, while the second placed teams take USD75,000 each, and the third placed USD50,000 each. The cash prizes through the sponsorship of the Motsepe Foundation will see the top three teams in each category access the funding that will go towards sustaining a development project of their choice.

Day 2 results

Boys category

Rwanda 0 Kenya 2 (Nicholas Onyango Ochola x2)

Uganda 1 (Simon Wanyama) Tanzania 0

Burundi 0 Somalia 0

Kenya 1 (Milton Mabea) Uganda 2 (Simon Wanyama x2)

Somalia 0 Rwanda 0

Tanzania 2 (Peter Andrew Arbogasti, Juma Mashaka Juma) Burundi 0

Girls category

Burundi 0 Uganda 4 (Cynthia Kirenga, Shadia Nabirye x3)

Rwanda 0 Tanzania 3 (Rehema Joseph Mayala, Zainabu Dotto Karuka x2)

Burundi 0 Kenya 2 (Lindey Weey Atieno x2)

Rwanda 0 Uganda 3 (Lydia Namaseruka, Shadia Nabirye, Tracy Nabalanzi)

Burundi 0 Tanzania 5 (Rehema Joseph Mayala, Zainabu Dotto Karua x2, Devotha Nyangi Magambox2)

Uganda 1 (Haira Nabbosa) Kenya 0