AFCON U-17 qualifiers
Referees named for TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
Twenty four referees have been selected to officiate at the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ethiopia.
The tournament will take centre stage November 15th to December 2nd at in the towns of Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa.
Ali Ahmed, the CECAFA head of refereeing says the 24 referees have been carefully selected from some of the Member Associations in the Zone. “They have undergone physical tests and a pre-competition course since arriving in Addis Ababa, and are ready to start officiating matches,” added Ahmed.
The opening match of the tournament on November 15th will see Somalia and South Sudan face-off at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Group A, while Rwanda will take on hosts Ethiopia in the second match.
Tanzania and Sudan will open the campaign in Group B the same day at the Dire Dawa Stadium, and Burundi battle the 2024 champions Uganda in the second match.
The best two teams from each group will qualify to play in the semi-final stage. The losers at the semi-final stage will tussle it out for the bronze medal, while the winner play in the final.
The champions, first runner up and second runner up will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies AFCON 2026.
Referees
Men: Bertnard Amnirakiza (Burundi), William Oloya (Uganda), Hassan Hagi Abdullahi (Somalia), Solomon Okwera (South Sudan), Ramadhan Kayoko (Tanzania), Kelvin Maina (Kenya), Elsayed Mohamed Ismail Amro (Sudan), Celestin Nsabimana (Rwanda), Said Isamail (Djibouti), Ephrem Debele (Ethiopia), Herve Nduwayo (Burundi), Brianson Musisi (Uganda), Nelson Baeina (South Sudan), Kassim Mpanga (Tanzania), Boniface Karanja (Kenya), Ali Eid Adam (Somalia), Mustefa Meki (Ethiopia), Emmanuel Habumugisha (Rwanda), Ahmed Abdulgabi Abubakar (Sudan), Rachid Waiss (Djibouti),
Women: Raya Sesay (Ethiopia), Diana Murungi (Uganda), Zahra Ali Guma (Sudan), Sandrine Murangwa (Rwanda)
Instructors: Moses Osano (Kenya), Wiish Yeberow (Somalia), Israel Mujuni (Tanzania), Bernard Nfubusa (Burundi), Alemu Gizate, Alemeyaw Ashenafi (Ethiopia)
Eight teams have arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ahead of the Zonal CECAFA qualifiers of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tournament which will attract 10 teams will run November 15th to December 2nd,2025 at the Dire Dawa Stadium and Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa.
Andrew Jackson Oryada, the Head of Marketing and Communication confirmed that eight teams had already arrived, while Sudan is expected to jet-in later tonight.
“Almost all the teams that have arrived have undergone the mandatory magnetic resonance imaging testing,” added Oryada.
The opening match of the tournament will involve Somalia and South Sudan at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Group A, while Rwanda will take on hosts Ethiopia in the second match.
Tanzania and Sudan will open the campaign in Group B the same day at the Dire Dawa Stadium, and Burundi battle the 2024 champions Uganda in the second match.
The best two teams from each group will qualify to play in the semi final stage. The losers at the semi final stage will tussle it out for the bronze medal, while the winner play in the final.
The champions, first runner up and second runner up will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies AFCON 2026.
A: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda
B: Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan, Burundi
The Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) has opened the Accreditation process for the 2026 U-17 AFCON Qualifiers that will be staged in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa in Ethiopia from 15th November – 2nd December, 2025.
Approved-accredited Media will receive a single Accreditation to cover the whole tournament.
Media Houses and Journalists intending to cover this tournament can submit their details via below provided form:
Hosts Ethiopia will tussle it out against Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Rwanda in Group A when the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers takes center stage next month.
The draw for the Zonal qualifiers was conducted on Friday afternoon at the FUFA FM studio in Mengo, Uganda.
Andrew Jackson Oryada, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Head of Marketing and Communication who conducted the draw said the 10 team tournament will run from November 15th to December 2 at the Abebe Bikila Stadium and the Dire Dawa Stadium.
“We are happy that once again we have a platform created by CAF for the youngsters to play International Football at Zonal level, the the best teams qualify for the African level and final the FIFA U-17 World Cup,” noted Oryada.
While group A will be based at the Abebe Bikila Stadium. Group B which has the defending champions Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan and Burundi will be based at the Dire Dawa Stadium.
The best two teams from each group will qualify to play in the semi final stage. The losers at the semi final stage will tussle it out for the bronze medal, while the winner play in the final.
The champions, first runner up and second runner up will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies AFCON 2026.
A: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda
B: Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan, Burundi
The draw for the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers will take place in Kampala on October 31th, 2025.
Jean Sseninde, the CECAFA Interim Executive Director confirmed that the draw will be conducted on Friday afternoon at the FUFA TV studio in Kampala.
Ten teams will take part in the competition to be hosted by Ethiopia from November 15th to December 2nd, 2025 at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, and the Dire Dawa Stadium.
Defending champions Uganda and hosts Ethiopia will be ranked top in each group. Each groups will have five teams and the best two teams from each group will qualify for the semi final stage.
The other teams that will take part in the qualifiers include; Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Kenya and Djibouti.
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