NEWS
Uganda Cubs stop Gambia to qualify for FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar
The Uganda Cubs have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025.
Coach Brian Ssenyondo’s team came from a goal down to defeat The Gambia 2-1 in a play-off played on Saturday at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Ahmed Njundu Kanyi gave The Gambia the lead after only 21 seconds at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida.
But the Uganda Cubs fought back steadily to level matters after 14 minutes through James Bogere. He capitalized on a good pass by Elvis Torach and shot past the Gambian goalkeeper.
After the goal the CECAFA U-17 reigning champions Uganda piled more pressure dominating play before they made it 2-1 after 33 minutes. Bogere scored his second goal of the night from close range.
In the second half The Gambia made some changes and threw everything at the Uganda Cubs defending line. But the CECAFA giants stood firm and absorbed the pressure well with goalkeeper Adrian Mukwanga also making timely blocks.
The Cubs also created some decent scoring opportunities through substitute Simon Wanyama and Richard Okello, but failed to score more goals.
It was all celebration after the final whistle as the Uganda Cubs booked a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup to take place in Qatar. To reach this stage Uganda lost 5-0 and 2-1 to Morocco and Zambia in Group A of the competition, but beat Tanzania 3-0. It is the first time that a team from Uganda qualifies for a FIFA World Cup event and the first that a men’s team from the CECAFA Zone qualifies for a FIFA World Cup competition.
Africa was granted ten spots at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 to take place Qatar. The other African teams that have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup include; Morocco, Zambia, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali. The last slot will be decided in the second play-off match between Egypt and Angola.
CAF Women's Champions League
Kawempe Muslim Ladies finish 4th in CAF Women’s Champions League
Uganda side Kawempe Muslim Ladies have finished in fourth place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
In a third play-off match played on Saturday at the Ismailia Stadium in Egypt, the Ugandan side suffered a 5-0 defeat to Lekié Football Filles.
Raïssa Nnanga netted twice, while Nchout Ajara, Tim Shalom Makoma and Takounda Engolo were also on target for the Cameroonian side.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies who were making their debut in the tournament started their campaign with a meomorable 3-2 win against reigning champions AS FAR Rabat in a Group B match.
They went on to suffer a 2-1 defeat to Ampen Darkoa Ladies from Ghana, but recovered to humble USFAS Bamako 3-0 and book a place in the semi-final stage.
Coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi’s side suffered a 4-1 defeat to former champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the semis, and lost 5-0 in the play-off.
The Kawempe Muslim Ladies finished the tournament scoring eight goals, conceding 13 goals and picking one red card. They will however pocket US$300,000 for finishing fourth.
“Although we wanted to win the title, the team has got good exposure playing at the tournament. We have played five matches with top teams in Africa and our players have gained a lot,” says head coach Kiyingi.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies became the second team in the CECAFA Zone after Tanzania’s Simba Queens to reach the semi final stage of a CAF Women’s Champions League.
CAF NEWS
Africa Cup of Nations returns to be staged every after two years
The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has announced that the return of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to take place every two years.
The decision follows a CAF Executive meeting on Thursday where the members unanimously reached the decision to return to the two year system.
“The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every Two Years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa,” said the CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe.
He made it clear that CAF is also concerned by the several years required before the proposed new Africa Nations League Pan-African competition, (which was supposed to be identical to the current AFCON and take place Every Two Years), could make the substantial financial and football development contributions for African Football and CAF competitions to be globally competitive and self-supporting.
“The CAF EXCO decision is in the best interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations and will also contribute significantly to the development and growth of football in Africa,” added Dr. Motsepe.
He also made it clear that he is confident the 2027 AFCON to be staged by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will be very successful. The subsequent AFCONs thereafter will take place in 2028, 2031 and 2033.
Development
CECAFA attends Annual Zonal Union Tactical Workshop in Cairo
The management of the Council of East and central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) is attending the Annual Zonal Union Tactical Workshop in Cairo, Egypt.
Jean Sseninde, the Interim Executive Director of CECAFA is leading the team at the workshop.
All six Zones are well represented in the workshop organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that started on Tuesday and ends on October 28th at the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) premises in Giza.
Sarah Mukuna, the CAF Director of Member Associations on Tuesday welcomed all the participants from all Zones to the workshop.
She made it clear that workshop is aligned with the vision of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe of Making Football in CAF’s 54 Member Associations world-class and self-supporting.
The workshop is focusing mainly on the strategic direction, CAF priorities and Zonal alignment, and also the delivery, implementation and accountability.
The workshop will also develop practical implementation plans for the 2027–2028 period, ensuring that CAF’s strategic priorities are translated into clear objectives, measurable targets and defined accountability.
The programme will be structured around four key pillars: Football Development, Programmes and Projects for Capacity Building, Administration and competition Management
“We are very happy as a Zone that we are attending this strategic workshop and it will benefit us a lot as we share our best practices and also have the opportunity to learn from other Zones and draw strategic plans for the 2027-2028 period,” says the CECAFA Interim Executive Director Sseninde.
The CECAFA Zone is also represented by Deogratias Meso (Finance Manager), Veronica Lusichi Bwamula (Safeguarding Focal Point and Head of Administration), Yusuf Mossi (Competitions Manager), and Andrew Oryada (Head of Marketing and Communications.
FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival
Kenya’s U15s reach World Cup and FIFA Festival Tier A knockout stage
Kenya are the only team from the CECAFA Zone to reach Tier 1 knock stage of the on-going 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Kenyan team will face Poland on Wednesday in the knock out stage (determines 1-32 places). After playing five matches Kenya topped Group Z with 11 points.
They defeated Panama 5-1, stopped Chad 3-2 and saw off Malta 6-2. They also settled for 2-2 draws against Niger and North Macedonia.
A win for Kenya on Wednesday will see them face the winner between Colombia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 16.
South Sudan who finished second in Group AD after registering three wins, a draw and one defeat are also through to the knock out round of 32 Tier B where they face Qatar. Tier B will determine the teams that finish in 33-64 positions.
Uganda and Rwanda who finished third in their respective groups will tussle it out in Tier 3 of the knock out stage today to determine teams that finish between 65th to 96th positions.
The Ugandan team will face Yemen, while Rwanda take on Vietnam. Tier D of the knock out stage will also see teams from the CECAFA Zone Burundi, Tanzania and Somalia battling to try and secure positions between 97th to 128th positions. Burundi will face Togo, while Somalia take o Tanzania.
Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia are the other teams from the CECAFA Zone are the other teams playing in the knock out stage of in the different Tiers.
The inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival uses the eight-a-side system, with two 20-minute halves and unlimited substitutions. FIFA created this competition to give players in this age group more opportunities for international experience and development.
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