NEWS
Coaches applaud CAF for introducing Women’s Champions League
The CECAFA zonal qualifier for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League enters the semi final stage today in Nairobi, Kenya.
Coaches of the eight teams that qualified to represent their respective countries have come out to praise the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) under President Patrice Motsepe for introducing this tournament, and CECAFA for organizing the qualifier.
Fred Musiime, the Lady Doves coach says he is very happy that finally CAF has though of having this tournament. “This is a very good platform for the teams in Africa to keep improving by playing in such a tournament,” says Musiime.
The PVP FC (Burundi) coach Jumaine Niyonkuru says having this competition is going to bring more competition in most of the Women Leagues in Africa. “This is a very good step by CAF to introduce this tournament because it will be another place where scouts can also scout out players,” added Niyonkuru.
Although his team did not manage to pick a single win in the tournament, coach of Djibouti’s FAD FC, Darar Abdillahi Darar thinks with many more tournaments for women footballers in Africa like the Champions League, the standards of women football will keep improving. “Players will always get better if they have more exposure and I think it was great idea for CAF to introduce this tournament,” says Darar.
Vihiga Queens FC coach Charles Okere Okoth also made it clear that this tournament was long overdue. “Women football has been lacking a platform like this for the teams in the continent to compete just like the men. I thank CAF for finally making this happen,” added Okoth.
For Heye Birhanu Gizaw whose Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC are the only team that has kept a 100% winning record in the group stage, he has thanked CECAFA and Kenya in particular for oragnising this tournament, but also praised CAF for finally introducing this event. “With this Champions League now in place, we shall now see many teams getting more competitive because they will be playing for silverware at continental level and this gives another platform,” he added.
The other three coaches of Simba Queens FC (Tanzania), Yei Joints Stars (South Sudan) and New Generations FC (Zanzibar) also made it clear that having this Women’s Champions League tournament is very good news and CAF must be applauded.
CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Sudan edge Tanzania in penalty shoot-outs to win AFCON U-20 qualifiers
Sudan are the winners of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
The Sudan team stunned hosts Tanzania in the final played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Thursday evening.
After an explosive 90 minutes that ended goalless, the match went to an extra 30 minutes of play.
Sudan went off the blocks first with Omer Hamd headlining home after 93 minutes.
But the Ngorongoro Boys cheered on by the home fans fought back strongly and leveled matters after 112 minutes through Abdulnassir Abdallah. In the penalty shoot-outs Sudan edged Tanzania 4-3.
It was all celebrations for the Sudan team who also qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after 13 years of waiting.
“This has been a successful mission for us and I thank my boys for the good job. We qualified for U-20 AFCON and now we have lifted the Cup,” said Sudan’s happy coach Salaheldin Ahmed Nuoreldin Ahmed.
In an earlier play-off match Uganda defeated Burundi 2-0. Derrick Ssozi and Ashraf Kyakuwa netted the goals to guide Uganda to win bronze.
The Zonal qualifiers attracted nine teams; Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Djibouti.
Mazin Fadul Albahli Taour has said winning the Best player’s Award in the Zonal AFCON U-20 qualifiers has excited him.
The Sudan player was voted Best Player of the AFCON U-20 CECAFA qualifiers which ended on September 24th at the Unhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Mazin Fadul played a pivotal role helping Sudan edge Tanzania in penalties 4-3 in the final after the match had ended 1-1.
“This Award has really excited me and I will continue to work even harder. It is very good to see Sudan qualify for the AFCON U-20 after over ten years,” said the player.
Tanzania’s Shaban Bakari was voted Best Goalkeeper, while Burundi’s Amini Nshimirimana scooped the Top scorer’s Award after netting four goals.
While Sudan picked gold and a trophy, Tanzania settled for silver, while Uganda bagged bronze. Tanzania also scopped the Fair Play Trophy.
Wallace Karia, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President and CAF Executive Member, TFF Vice President Athumani Nyamlani, Sudan Football Association (SFA) Head of Delegation Mohamed Abdalla Magzoub and CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde graced the Awards ceremony.
Tanzania have qualified for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
The Ngorongoro Boys secured their place after humbling Burundi 2-0 in the second semi-final match of the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
Juma Abushiri gave Tanzania the lead after 17 minutes after Burundi’s goalkeeper Omari Niyonkuru failed to punch away a curving ball off a corner kick.
The Burundi team who won all their two matches in the group stage tried to push forward, but the Tanzanian defenders stood firm.
Tanzania increasing their lead after Faraji Kayanda got his name on the score sheet after 33 minutes when he tapped in from close range after a quick counter attack.
After recess, the Burundi team made a switch to their tactical approach and started creating more scoring opportunities. Tanzania’s goalkeeper Shabani Bakari made some good saves to deny Burundi any opportunity to find goals.
Tanzania now join Burundi in the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as representatives from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone. The two teams will face-off on Thursday to decide who wins the regional title.
The regional qualifiers attracted nine teams; Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, South Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya and Rwanda.
Sudan have qualified for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Sudan team battled from a goal down to defeat Uganda 3-2 in the first semi-final match of the CECAFA Zonal qualifier played on Tuesday at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Richard Okello gave Uganda the lead after only 7 minutes. But three minutes later Rudwan Yahya Mohamed Ishag leveled matters for Sudan.
The two teams continued to attack and create several scoring opportunities, but went into the break with the score board reading 1-1.
After recess, the Sudan got off their blocks faster making it 2-1 after 47 minutes Mazin Fadul Albahli Taoer finishing off past Uganda’s goalkeeper Adrian Isabirye from close range.
But the Uganda team did not give up and equalized through Derrick Sssozi after 65 minutes. Albahi Taoer netted the winning goal after 83 minutes to send Sudan into the 2027 CAF U-20 AFCON.
“I am very happy that I have scored two goals to help Sudan qualify for AFCON,” said an emotional Albahi Taoer after the match.
Salaheldin Ahmed Nuoreldin Ahmed, the Sudan head coach thanked his players for the work well done. “It was not an easy match. But we thank Allah for guiding us into the AFCON U-20,” said a happy Ahmed.
As Sudan wait to play the final on Thursday, the second semi-final match between Burundi and Tanzania will take place later this afternoon.
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