The Eritrean National team will play two international matches against Niger and South Sudan between May 26-28^th, 2025.

International Football will be returning to Eritrea after five years when they last hosted a match.

The Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) has announced that the Red Sea Boys will face Niger in the first friendly match at the National Stadium in Asmara on May 26^th, and later take on South Sudan two days later.

Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam, President of the Eritrea National Football Federation (ENFF) told Cecafaonline that they are very happy to be hosting two national teams in Asmara.

“Our people have missed watching international Football in Asmara and we thank the Football Federations of Niger and South Sudan for accepting to send their teams,” added Andemariam.

Niger will use the International friendly ties to prepare for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHA) which will be hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania starting in August this year.

The upcoming International friendlies will also be used to bring back International Football in the country, but to celebrate African unity. The matches will be played under the theme of “Independence Through Solidarity”.

Malawi will send a team to the inaugural 2025 CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship slated for June 6-11^th in Mombasa, Kenya.

“Malawi have confirmed that they will take part in the CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship next month,” Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director confirmed on Wednesday.

The Championship which will kick start the 2025 CECAFA season will take place at the Pirates Beach. “We are excited that a guest side from another Zone will be taking part and we are still in talks with another country to send a team,” added Mossi.

He explained that depending on the number of teams, the Championship is likely to be played on a round robin basis so that teams can also have as many matches as possible.

“From the CECAFA Zone we already have Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Zanzibar who have confirmed participation,” added Mossi.

After the Beach Soccer Championship, the Zone will organize the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, CECAFA Dar Port-Kagame Cup, CAF U-17 Zonal qualifier, CAF African Schools Football Championship Zonal Qualifier, CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal Qualifier and the CECAFA Women’s Challenge Cup.

Jamus Sports Club have retained the Zain South Sudan Cup edging El Merriekh SC Bentiu in the final played on Tuesday.

After the two teams failed to find the goals in the allotted 90 minutes at the Juba National Stadium, Jamus SC came out top winning 4-2 on penalty shoot-outs.

Jamus goalkeeper Majak Mawit Maling stopped two penalties to ensure his team recorded yet another win against their arch rivals.

Jamus head coach Jean Claude Loboko praised his players for winning the Cup. “Lifting this Cup means a lot to us as we now turn focus to the South Sudan Premier League,” added Loboko, also voted best coach of the competition.

Jamus SC secured a place in the final after ejecting Koryrom FC 2-0, while El Merriekh SC Bentiu saw off Aweil United FC 5-0.

The win also granted Jamus SC the opportunity to represent South Sudan at the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2025 expected to take place in July in Tanzania.

Although they are placed third Jamus SC will also have a chance to win a double as they are unbeaten in the South Sudan Premier League.

The Awards ceremony was graced by the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) President and Acting President of CECAFA, Augustino Parek Maduot, and other dignitaries.

Zain South Sudan are the sponsors of the 2024/2025 Zain South Sudan Cup which attracted over 30 teams.

Uganda Cranes will play two International friendly matches against Cameroon and The Gambia during the FIFA International match calendar Window next month.

Coach Paul Put’s team will face Cameroon who played ay the 2022 World Cup on June 6^th, and later battle The Gambia three days later. The matches will be played in Morocco.

Uganda named a 26 man squad on Tuesday including 12 players from the Uganda Premier League, and 16 foreign based players.

The Cranes will also use the two international matches to test players ahead of the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Besides Uganda Cranes, other teams in the CECAFA Zone like Rwanda and Burundi will also be engaged in International friendly matches.

The Aavubi of Rwanda will play away to Algeria on June 7^th in Constantine, while Burundi are also scheduled to play two matches against Mauritania and Guinea Bissua.

Uganda Squad summoned

Goalkeepers: Isima Watenga (Golden Arrows FC, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Joel Mutakubwa (Bidco FC, Uganda), Hannington Sebwalunyo (NEC FC, Uganda).

Defenders: Elvis Bwomono (St Mirren FC, Scotland), Nico Wadada (Vipers SC, Uganda), Elio Capradossi (AS Cittadella, Italy), Arnold Odong (SC Villa, Uganda), Toby Sibbick (Wigan Athletic FC, England), Hilary Mukundane (Vipers SC, Uganda), Jordan Obita (Hibernian FC, Scotland), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Žižkov, Czech Republic).

Midfielders: Bobosi Byaruhanga (Oakland Roots SC, USA), Kenneth Semakula (Club Africain, Tunisia), Allan Oyirwoth (New England Revolution, USA), Enock Ssebagala (NEC FC, Uganda), Abdu Karim Watambala (Vipers SC, Uganda), Allan Okello ( Vipers SC, Uganda), Travis Mutyaba (Bordeaux, France).

Forwards: Dennis Omedi (APR FC, Rwanda), Hakim Kiwanuka ( APR FC, Rwanda), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza (KCCA FC, Uganda), Rogers Mato (FK Vardar, North Macedonia), Steven Mukwala ( Simba SC, Tanzania), Usama Arafat (KCCA FC, Uganda), John Paul Dembe (AC Hacken, Sweden), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda), Ivan Ahimbisibwe (URA FC, Uganda)