The semi-final stage is finally set at the on-going 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.

Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan booked their places on Saturday to join Burundi who qualified two days earlier.

In the first Group C match played Kenya came from a goal down to force a draw against South Sudan in a match played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Jonathan Ajoung gave South Sudan the lead after 26 minutes, but Brigthon Nacheri leveled matters in added time to ensure Kenya walked a way with a point in the tournament. The two teams bowed out after finishing with 1 point each.

The draw in the first match automatically saw Uganda and Sudan who were set to play the next match qualify before kicking a ball because they already had three points each respectively.

Uganda later picked a 1-0 win against Sudan as coach Laryea Kingston’s team maintained their 100% winning run to top Group B. Substitute Amour Munogera scored the lone goal.

In that last match of the day hosts Tanzania defeated Ethiopia 4-0. Bashiri Salum Kibaila netted a first half brace, while Juma Sagwe also scored a brace in the second half for the Ngorongoro Boys.

The semi finals will be played on Tuesday with Uganda facing Sudan, while Tanzania take on Burundi in what promises to be explosive.

The finalists will automatically qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.

Group A standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Tanzania   2     2    0    0    7     0     7     6

Rwanda     2     0    1    1    0     3    -3     1

Ethiopia    2     0    1    1    0     4    -4     1

Group B standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Uganda     2     2    0    0    5     1     4     6

Sudan        2     1    0    1    3     1     2     3

Djibouti     2     0    0    2    1    7    -6     0

Group C standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Burundi     2     2    0    0    6     0     6     6

Kenya        2     0    1    1     1     3   -2     1

S. Sudan    2     0    1    1    1     5    -4     1

The national team of Sudan has intensified preparations in Taif, Saudi Arabia ahead of their 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier matches.

Sudan will host Ethiopia in Juba on September 25^th and face Mozambique four days later in Maputo in Group J matches.

James Kwesi Appiah, the Sudan head coach has made it clear that they are looking forward to making a good start in the qualifiers because their target is to qualify for the AFCON 2027.

“We have had players joining the team in groups because many have been busy with their teams in CAF competitions,” added Appiah.

Nine other teams in the CECAFA Zone are also preparing ahead of Day 1 of the AFCON qualifiers.

South Sudan under a new coach Christian N’Sengi-Biembe are also preparing to play away to Malawi in a Group B match, while Rwanda will host Liberia in a Group K tie on the September 25^th.

Eritrea who qualified from the preliminary stage will play away to Kenya, while Somalia travel to face The Gambia in Group D and C matches respectively. Uganda and Burundi will travel to face Tunisia and Togo respectively.

The AFCON 2027 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Day 1 matches for CECAFA teams

Group B: Malawi vs South Sudan

Group C: Gambia vs Somalia

Group D: Kenya vs Eritrea

Group H: Tunisia vs Uganda

Group I: Togo vs Burundi

Group J: Sudan vs Ethiopia

Group K: Rwanda vs Liberia

Group L: Tanzania vs Guinea

Burundi are the first team to qualify for the semi-final stage at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers in Tanzania.

After seeing off South Sudan 4-0 in their opening Group C match few days ago, the Burundi team collected a second straight win beating Kenya 2-0 on Thursday.

Captain Amini Nshimirimana gave scored to give Burundi after only 10 minutes. After a good build up in the Kenyan half, Nshimirimana made no mistake beat Kenya’s goalkeeper Wayne Orata.

The Kenyan team tried to push forward, but failed to penetrate the tight defending line marshaled by Cadeau Ndayishimiye and Radjabu Nzeyimana.

In the second half Nshimirimana was again quick to nod the ball past the Kenyan goalkeeper after 68 minutes to make it 2-0.

Kenya’s Edwin Jumba and substitute Theodore Gitari tried to push forward with shots from outside the box, but failed to score.

It was all celebration for the Burundi team after the final whistle. Jean De Dieu Rukundo, the Burundi coach thanked his team for a job well done to qualify for the semi finals.

“The first goal has been achieved. Now we focus on the semi final,” added the Burundi head coach.

Action continues on Saturday with Kenya facing South Sudan, Sudan battling Uganda, and Ethiopia taking on hosts Tanzania.

With Burundi topping Group C, they now await to face the top team in Group A at the semi-final stage on September 22, while the top team in Group B will face the best second placed team from all the groups.

The finalists will automatically qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.

Group A standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Tanzania   1     1    0    0    3     0     3     3

Ethiopia    1     0    1    0    0     0     0     1

Rwanda    2     0    1     1    0     3    -3    1

Group B standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Uganda     1     1    0    0    4     1     3     3

Sudan        1     1    0    0    3     0     3     3

Djibouti     2     0    0    2    1     7    -6     0

Group C standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Burundi     2     2    0    0    6     0     6     6

Kenya        1     0    0    1     0     2   -2     0

S. Sudan    1     0    0    1    0     4    -4     0

Sudan have kick started their campaign in the on-going TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers with a convincing win against Djibouti.

The Sudan team brushed a side Djibouti 3-0 in a Group B match played on Thursday at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

Wail Galal Omer netted a goal in each half, while Ibrahim Samani also got his name on the score sheet for Sudan.

Sudan started the match with intensity to score after only 8 minutes through Omer. Djibouti’s defending line of Derrick Adede and Mahamood Bilal failed to match the pace of the Sudan’s attacking force.

After recess  Samani made it 2-0 for Sudan after 54 minutes, and Omer picked his second goal of the day after 84 minutes.

While Djibouti exit the tournament after losing two matches, Sudan move to second behind Uganda who won their opening match 4-1 against Djibouti.

Abdirahman Ali Abubakar, the Sudan coach praised his players for the good performance. “I am happy we scored three goals and conceded none,” said the coach.

In an earlier Group A match Ethiopia settled for a goalless draw against Rwanda. With four teams already with three points collected, Rwanda with one point are also out of the competition.

Group C table leaders Burundi were set to face Kenya in the last match of the day.

Group A standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Tanzania   1     1    0    0    3     0     3     3

Ethiopia    1     0    1    0    0     0     0     1

Rwanda    2     0    1     1    0     3    -3    1

Group B standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Uganda     1     1    0    0    4     1     3     3

Sudan        1     1    0    0    3     0     3     3

Djibouti     2     0    0    2    1     7    -6     0

Group C standing

                   P    W   D   L   GF   GA  GD  Pts

Burundi     1     1    0    0    4     0     4     3

Kenya        0     0    0    0     0     0     0     0

S. Sudan    1     0    0    1    0     4    -4     0