Several workshops have kicked-off today ahead of the start of the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.

The workshops for Young Reporters, Local Safeguarding, Young Coaches, Grassroots Football and CAF D licence started at the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) Technical Centre on Wednesday.

Shon Osimbo, an accomplished broadcast journalist from Kenya said she was impressed with the youngsters she handled in the Young Reporters workshop.

“Day 1 has been very educative and the youngsters are very eager to learn. We shall shift to the practical part on Thursday and Friday where we expect to learn more,” she added.

The Safeguarding Workshop was led by FIFA certified Safeguarding officers Jules Karangwa and Veronica Lusichi.

The Workshops will continue to run alongside the tournament which concludes on September 5^th at the Kigali Pele Stadium.

The Workshops initiated by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) promote holistic youth development, education, and off-pitch skills.

Tanzanian International Alphonce Mabula Msanga has joined Algerian Premier League giants JS Kabylie.

The defensive midfielder who was impressive for the national team at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has signed a three year contract.

He joins the Tizi Ouzou based club as a free agent after leaving Azerbaijani side Şamaxı FK.

The 23-year old had been strongly linked with Tanzanian champions Young Africans Sports Club and another Algerian side USM Alger.

Mabula accumulated 353 minutes during the 2025 AFCON featuring with good performances against Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda and hosts Morocco. He helped Tanzania reach the round of 16 for the first time.

The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA 2026 qualifiers 2026 has been conducted on Monday at the Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda.

Hosts Tanzania have been placed in Group A that will also have Ethiopia and Rwanda.

The tournament will take place September 15-25^th at the newly renovated Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

In the draw conducted by the CECAFA Competitions Manager, Yusuf Mossi and assisted by Amir Hassan, Uganda who finished runners-up in the last qualifier will face Sudan and Djibouti in Group B.

Group C will also have some tight contests as South Sudan is placed alongside Kenya and Burundi.

“The nine teams will tussle it out in the group stages and the top team from each of the three groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final together with the best second placed team,” said Mossi.

The best two teams at the Zonal qualifier will represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026.

Groups

A: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda

B: Uganda, Sudan, Djibouti

C: South Sudan, Kenya, Burundi

Nine teams have registered to take part in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.

The regional qualifier will take place September 15-25^th,2026 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager confirmed that the nine teams have entered, and only Eritrea and Somalia will miss out.

“The draw for the competition will take place on August 31^st at the Kigali Pele Stadium in the Rwanda capital Kigali at 10.30am. We shall have three groups with three teams each. The top team in each group and the best second placed team from any group will qualify for the semi-final stage,” added Mossi.

He further explained that the best two teams will qualify to represent the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Tanzania are the defending champions after defeating Kenya 2-1 in the final during the 2024 Zonal qualifiers held at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam.