NEWS
Uganda Hippos win, South Sudan go down fighting in TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON
Uganda made a winning start at the on-going 2023 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday.
The Hippos dispatched The Central African Republic 2-1 in the first Group B match played at the Suez Canal Stadium.
Skipper Isma Mugulusi gave the Hippos the lead after 47 minutes, and John Paul Dembe made it 2-0 after 74 minutes as coach Jackson Mayanja’s team dominated play. Boris Gbenou pulled one back for The Central African Republic in added time.
Titus Ssematimba, Ivan Irinimbabazi and Travis Mutyaba all caused The Central African Republic defenders all sorts of trouble.
“”My lads played a good game and the first game is not always easy at big tournaments like this. It’s a big stage for the players and we won against a good team. But we need to keep focused for the other matches to come,” said Uganda’s coach Mayanja.
In the second Group B match debutants South Sudan put up a spirited fight but lost 2-1 to Congo Brazzaville. Maurile Bassinga netted the opening goal for Congo Brazzaville at the stroke of half time, and Sousou Ilendo doubled the scores after the interval off a penalty.
The junior Bright Star continued to attack and were rewarded when Paul Mara scored with seven minutes to full time. Peter James, the South Sudan coach said they were unlucky to get a key players injured earlier, but added that his team had played better in the second half.
Action in Group B will return on Thursday with joint table leaders Uganda Hippos and Congo Brazzaville facing off, while South Sudan take on The Central African Republic. The 12-team competition will climax on March 11th.
The tournament also doubles as the African qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Indonesia. The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup.
Kenya Premier League side Tusker FC will feature in the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.
The 2026 FKF Cup champions have replaced El Merriekh SC after the Sudan side pulled out citing challenges following a delayed conclusion to their domestic season.
Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager said having Tusker FC come to feature in the CECAFA Kagame Cup is a good development because they will represent Kenya in the 2026/2027 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 that will feature 12 teams from the Zone will take place July 24th to August 7th in Kigali, Rwanda.
CECAFA will conduct the official draw on Friday at the Amahoro National Stadium Press Conference room at 10am (Rwanda time) in Kigali.
CECAFA Head of Marketing and Communication Andrew Jackson Oryada will conduct the draw. Former Rwandan International and Legend Haruna Niyonzima will assist with the draw. CECAFA and the hosts Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) will hold a press conference at the same venue after the draw is conducted.
The 12 teams for CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026: APR FC, Rayon Sport (Rwanda), Simba SC, Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania), Vipers SC (Uganda), Al Hilal SC (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC, Tusker FC (Kenya), Mogadishu City FC (Somalia), Jamus SC ( South Sudan), FC Garde Républicaine (Djibouti), KVZ FC (Zanzibar)
The final draw for the regional CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 will be held on July 10th in Kigali, Rwanda.
Twelve teams will be drawn ahead of the tournament slated for July 24th to August 7th in the Rwandan capital.
The draw will take place at the Amahoro National Stadium Press Conference room at 10am (Rwanda time). Former Rwandan International and Legend Haruna Niyonzima who also played in several editions of the CECAFA Kagame Cup will assist with the draw.
Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager explained that the draw will see four teams each drawn in three groups.
“The top team in each group and the best second placed team from at of the three groups will qualify for the semi final stage,” explained Mossi.
He said the tournament will help teams in the Zone prepare better ahead of the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup which kick off in September.
CECAFA has also confirmed Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania) as the 12th team in the competition. Last year Singida Black Stars FC defeated Al Hilal in the final, while APR FC finished third when the tournament was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The teams that will be drawn include; APR FC, Rayon Sport (Rwanda), Simba SC, Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania), Vipers SC (Uganda), Al Hilal SC, El Merriekh SC (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Mogadishu City FC (Somalia), Jamus SC ( South Sudan), FC Garde Républicaine (Djibouti), and KVZ FC (Zanzibar)
The Serengeti Boys of Tanzania have defeated Nigeria 3-2 in their opening match of the invitational 4-Nations China International Youth Football tournament in Yinchuan, China.
Issa Chole and Hamisi Chenga gave Tanzania a 2-0 half time lead at the Yinchaun Sports Centre Helanshan Stadium on Sunday.
In the second half, the Golden Eaglets came out with renewed purpose after the interval and were rewarded with a goal. But Tanzania restored their two-goal advantage when Kassim Juma produced a superb finish to make it 3-1.
Nigeria reduced the deficit again a few minutes later. In an earlier match hosts China defeated Australia 3-0.
Action continues on July 8th with Tanzania facing China, while Australia take on Nigeria. The tournament will end on July 11th as Tanzania face Australia and China take on Nigeria.
Tanzania are using the 4-Nations Invitational tournament to prepare ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026 to take place in December in Qatar.
Tanzania Premier League side, Simba SC will feature in the regional CECAFA Kagame Cup.
Rwanda will host the tournament slated for July 24th to August 8th in Kigali at the Amahoro National Stadium and the Kigali Pele Stadium.
Simba SC who have lifted the regional trophy a record six times return to the event since their last appearance in 2018 where they lost 2-1 to Azam FC.
Jean Sseninde, the Interim Executive Director confirmed that all top teams from the region will play in the tournament. “We are excited that this tournament will give the 12 teams a platform to prepare well ahead of the CAF competitions kicking off in September 2026,” added Sseninde.
She disclosed that the 12th team will be announced on July 6th, 2026. Hosts will be represented by top sides APR FC and Rayon Sports FC.
Three Member Associations Ethiopia, Eritrea and Burundi will not send teams to the CECAFA Kagame Cup. Last year Tanzanian side Singida Black Stars FC stopped Al Hilal SC in the final.
Eleven teams for CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026
APR FC, Rayon Sport (Rwanda), Simba SC (Tanzania), Vipers SC (Uganda), Al Hilal SC, El Merriekh SC (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Mogadishu City FC (Somalia), Jamus SC ( South Sudan), FC Garde Républicaine (Djibouti), KVZ FC (Zanzibar)
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