NEWS
Final group battles for CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup
The CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup enters the final climax in the groups stage today with two games on card at the Bahir Dar International Stadium, Ethiopia.
With Kenya and Burundi already through to the semi final stage, two more places will be decided this afternoon.
Djibouti who lost their opening match 3-0 to Kenya will take to the field first against South Sudan in a Pool C match, while Pool A table leaders Tanzania will face arch-rivals Uganda in the second game.
“We need to play a better game and take our chances. It is also very important that we defend well against South Sudan because we did not do that in our opening match,” says Djibouti’s head coach Julien Mette.
Djibouti will also hope that their forwards Isman Siad Yabe and Abass Fouad Abdourahman find their scoring touch.
But South Sudan’s coach Simon James Yor thinks with good concentration his team should be able to get maximum points. “We need to be very cautious and also sharp at goal because this match is very important for us,” says Yor.
In the second game Uganda who lifted the 2020 CECAFA U-20 Challenge Cup will be more than hungry to prove a point against Pool A table leaders Tanzania.
Morley Byekwaso, the Uganda head coach says he is aware the match will be a do-or-die affair since Tanzania is an organized side. “We have gone back to the drawing board and rectified out mistakes,” added Byekwaso. Tanzania will hope that Reliant Llusajo Mwakasagule who netted the lone goal against guest side DR Congo can continue with his scoring touch.
Kim Poulsen, the Tanzania coach admitted that facing Uganda will not be an easy task. “I know they will come all out, but we must be cautious and also take our chances,’ added Polsen.
The semi finals of the competition will be played on July 27th and the final and play-off on July 30th.
The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has rescheduled the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship.
The inaugural Championship which was slated to take place June 6-11th will now take centre stage between July 7-12th in Mombasa, Kenya.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause to your preparations and plans. Our intention remains to deliver a high-quality competition, and this adjustment will allow us to meet all necessary requirements for a smooth and memorable event,” said CECAFA’s Executive Director, Auka Gecheo.
The teams that have already confirmed participation include; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar, Burundi and guest sides Malawi and Seychelles.
APR Football Club have retained the Rwanda Premier League title.
The army side were crowned champions on Wednesday after defeating Musanze FC 3-1 in their last match played at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. Bosco Rubonneka netted a hat-trick for APR FC.
APR FC who also lifted the Peace Cup finished the season with 67 points from 30 matches played, while their arch-rivals Rayon Sport came second with 63 points.
APR FC will now represent Rwanda in the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup.
Last year APR FC were runners-up in the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup after losing to guest side Red Arrows FC from Zambia in the final.
Meanhwhile, the Somali Premier League was also decided last week with Mogadishu City Club FC emerging champions with 57 points, while Heegan FC finished second with 51 points.
The other Premier Leagues in the CECAFA region that have already been concluded include; Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti.
The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has announced that the national senior side, Taifa Stars will face South Africa in an international friendly match on June 6th, 2025.
Wilfred Kidao, the TFF General Secretray told Cecafaonline on Tuesday that the match will be played away in South Africa during the FIFA window for International friendly matches.
He also disclosed that Tanzania’s team for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) will also play two matches away to Morocco’s CHAN team on June 7th and 10th respectively.
Meanwhile, Harambee Stars of Kenya will also face Chad in two international friendly matches to be played in Morocco June 7th and 10th respectively.
All the other teams in the CECAFA Zone Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi will also be engaged with International friendly matches.
Uganda has been drawn to face France, Chile and Canada in the FIFA U-17 World Cup slated for November 3-27th, 2025 in Qatar.
In the draw conducted in Qatar on Sunday evening coach Brian Ssenyondo’s team will open their compaign against Canada on November 5th at the Al Rayyan.
The CECAFA flag bearers will return to the pitch on November 8th to take on Chile, and conclude the group matches against France three days later.
Uganda qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after stopping The Gambia in the play-off during the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Egypt last month.
This edition will be the opening of the annual cycle adopted by FIFA for the U-17 World Cup and the first to be played in the 48-team format instead of the previous biennial 24-team tournaments.
The other African teams that will battle at the competition include; South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Mali.
Germany are the defending champions, having won their first title in 2023.
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