AFCON U-20 QUALIFIERS
Hosts Tanzania ready to battle Kenya in Zonal U-20 AFCON Qualifiers
The TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-20 CECAFA Qualifiers finally kick-off on Sunday with two matches on card.
In what promises to be a thriller hosts Tanzania will take to the field first to battle Kenya in a Group A match at the KMC Stadium.
Charles Boniface Mukwasa, the Tanzania head coach has said winning the opening match in such a tournament is always a good motivator. “We are going all out to try and get three points because that will give us a good start,” added Mukwasa.
The hosts will hope to also rely on the home support to motivate the team against a well prepared Kenyan team led by coach Salim Babu.
The likes of Aldrine Kipchirchir Kibet who was the star for the Kenyan team at the CECAFA U-18 tournament last year will be one of the players to watch. Babu thinks the stakes will be high in the opening match against Tanzania.
“Stakes are always high when you play a home team and the first match of the tournament. But we are well prepared,” added the Kenya team coach.
The second Group A match will see Sudan facing Djibouti at the Azam Complex. The Djibouti team few days ago played two friendly matches against the Ethiopia U-20 team in Addis Ababa, losing 2-0 and 5-0 respectively.
Action in Group B will take place on Monday with South Sudan battling Burundi at the KMC Stadium, while Uganda take on Ethiopia in the second match at the Azam Complex.
The qualifiers which have attracted nine teams will climax on October 20th with the final. The best two teams will represent the Zone at the AFCON U-20 competition next year.
Group A: Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti, Kenya
Group B: Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s U-20 side defeated Djibouti 2-0 in an international friendly match played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium on Monday.
The two teams used the match to prepare ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-20 CECAFA qualifiers slated for October 6-20th in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Nathael Solomon gave the hosts the lead after 43 minutes, and Degfie Alemu made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.
The Djibouti team tried to push ahead to find some goal but failed to beat the Ethiopian defending line.
The Zonal qualifiers will kick start with a Group A match between Sudan and Djibouti at the Azam Complex, while hosts Tanzania will battle Kenya in a Group A match at the KMC Stadium the same day.
The 2022 runners-up South Sudan will open their Group B campaign against Burundi at the KMC Stadium, while reigning champions Uganda face Ethiopia in a match to be played at the Azam Complex all on October 7th. Tanzania will return to action on October 8th against Djibouti, the same day Sudan face Rwanda.
Nine teams will participate in the tournament with the best two teams qualifying to represent the Zone at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations U-20 2025.
Group A: Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti, Kenya
Group B: Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia
The Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) informs the media that the accreditation process for the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers that will take place October 6-20th, 2024 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is now open.
Members who wish to cover the event may now apply via https://cecafaonline.com/media-accreditation-afcon-u20-qualifiers/
AFCON U-20 QUALIFIERS
Sudan to open against Djibouti in Africa Cup of Nations U-20 CECAFA qualifiers
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-20 CECAFA qualifiers will kick-off with a Group A match between Sudan and Djibouti on October 6th at the Maj. Gen Isamuhyo Stadium in Tanzania.
Nine teams will participate in the tournament slated to take place from October 6-20th in Dar es Salaam,
According to the fixture the hosts Tanzania will battle Kenya in a second Group A match to be played on Day 1 at the same Maj. Isamuhyo Stadium.
The 2022 runners-up South Sudan will open their Group B campaign against Burundi, while reigning champions Uganda face Ethiopia in matches to be played at the KMC Stadium on October 7th. Tanzania will return to action on October 8th against Djibouti, the same day Sudan face Rwanda.
Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager made it clear that the group matches will climax on October 15th, and the semi-finals take centre stage three days after. The best two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-final stage, and the finalists will automatically qualify to represent CECAFA at the AFCON U-20 to take place next year.
“We are very confident that these qualifiers will be more competitive compared to the last time they were hosted in Sudan. Member Associations have continued to work hard to develop their junior teams in the Zone,” explained Mossi.
Group A: Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti, Kenya
Group B: Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia
Tanzania have been drawn to face Kenya in the qualifiers of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-20 CECAFA qualifiers.
In the draw conducted by the CECAFA Competitions Manager, Yusuf Mossi at the Azam TV studio in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Thursday, the hosts have been placed alongside Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti and Kenya.
Uganda who won the trophy in 2022 in Khartoum have been placed in Group B alongside South Sudan, Burundi and Ethiopia.
The Zonal qualifiers will be played October 6-20th, 2024 in three venues, Azam Complex, KMC Stadium and the Major General Isamuhyo Stadium, all Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Interestingly Uganda and South Sudan who reached the last final and represented the Zone at continental level have been placed in the same group.
Mossi explained that the best two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the semi-finals. The finalists will qualify to represent CECAFA at the AFCON U-20 to take place next year.
“We hope to have a very competitive and exciting tournament in Tanzania,” added Mossi.
Group A: Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti, Kenya
Group B: Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia
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