CAF U-20 AFCON CECAFA qualifiers
Hosts Tanzania, Burundi roar on Day 1 of AFCON U-20 qualifiers
Hosts Tanzania and Burundi have recorded convincing wins on Day 1 of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
Burundi run riot by defeating South Sudan 4-0 in a Group C match played on Tuesday night at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es salaam.
Amini Nshimirimana netted a first half brace for Burundi going into the break. The second half was interrupted by a lighting challenge for close to 30 minutes.
The South Sudan team tried to get their act together, but were erratic at goal. Sympathque Majidi also scored a brace to ensure Burundi walked away with a comfortable win amd maximum points.
“I am very happy with the big win because it gives us a perfect start in the tournament,” said Burundi’s coach Jean De Dieu Rukundo.
The third match of the day saw the 2024 Zonal winners Tanzania defeat Rwanda 3-0. Faraji Kayanda, Juma Aushiri and Evastus Lukanima netted first half goals for the Ngorongoro Boys.
Rwanda’s head coach Andre Mbungo Casa made some changes in the second half as the team team put-up a better display and created some scoring opportunities.
Tanzania’s coach Maria Rivera Campesino said that although his team missed many opportunies, he is happy that they are creating them. “We have started with a win and we could win with a bigger margin in other matches because we keep creating many scoring chances,” added the coach.
Earlier Uganda had defeated Djibouti 4-1 in a Group B match. Action returns on Thursday with three matches on card. Rwanda will take on Ethiopia, while Djibouti face Sudan, while Group C table leaders Burundi face a test against Kenya.
Group A standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Tanzania 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Ethiopia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rwanda 1 0 0 1 1 3 -3 0
Group B standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uganda 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 3
Sudan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Djibouti 1 0 0 1 1 4 -3 0
Group C standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Burundi 1 1 0 0 4 0 4 3
Kenya 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
S. Sudan 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4 0
Uganda have defeated Djibouti 4-1 in the opening match of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
Isima Magala gave the Ugandan team the lead after only five minutes on Tuesday at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
After 23 minutes substitute Ishak Tahir leveled matters for the Djibouti team. Tahir made no mistake beating the Ugandan goalkeeper Adrian Isabirye.
The Ugandan team lef by captain Ricahrd Okello continued to attack in numbers, but failed to convert. At the stroke of halftime Genesis Ocen Odiya restored Uganda’s lead.
In the second half Uganda returned with more purpose and pushed deep into the Djibouti half. Okello got his name on the score sheet for Uganda after 60 minutes, and Magala netted his second of the day to make it 4-1.
The Djibouti team tried to shoot from outside the box, but failed to find the target for more goals. The win sends Uganda top of Group B before they face Sudan in the last match of the prelimnary stage.
Laryea Kingston, the Uganda coach said although they missed several scoring opportunities, it is good they managed to collect a win in the first match. “We take every match as it comes and work hard to get a win,” added the coach.
His counterpart Abdirahman Ali Abubakar said his team had started well, but failed to defend better.
The second match will see South Sudan face Burundi in a Group C, while hosts Tanzania face Rwanda in a Group A encounter.
Group B standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uganda 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 3
Sudan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Djibouti 1 0 0 1 1 4 -3 0
CAF U-20 AFCON CECAFA qualifiers
Uganda to face Djibouti in opening tie of CAF U-20 AFCON Zonal qualifiers
The opening match of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers will see Uganda face Djibouti on September 14th in a Group B match in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
All matches will be played at the newly renovated Uhuru Stadium.
Nine teams will tussle it out to determine the best two that will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Manager of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) told Cecafaonline that they expect a very competitive tournament because most teams started early preparations.
“We had a successful draw held in Rwanda on August 31st and three teams are placed in each of the three groups. The top teams in each of the groups, together with the best second placed team from any of the three groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage,” explained Mossi.
Tanzania, the reigning U-20 champions in the Zone are placed in Group A alongside Ethiopia and Rwanda, while Group B has Uganda, Sudan and Djibouti. South Sudan, Kenya and Burundi are placed in Group C.
Day 1 will also see South Sudan face Burundi in a Group C tie, while hosts Tanzania will play the last match of the day against Rwanda.
On September 17th there matches will be played with Rwanda taking on Ethiopia, Djibouti facing Sudan, and Burundi battling Kenya. The last group matches will be played on September 19th with Kenya playing South Sudan, Sudan lining up against Uganda, and Ethiopia battling Tanzania.
The semi-final matches will be played September 22nd with Group B winners facing the best second placed team, and Group A winners taking on Group C winners. The play-off and final will take center stage on September 24th.
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 15-25th 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
-
CAF Champions League11 months agoYoung Africans draw Al Ahly for CAF Champions League group stage
-
CAF African Nations Championship2 years agoAfrican Nations Championship 2025 dates announced
-
CAF African Nations Championship1 year agoCHAN 2024: Kenya lead group, to face Madagascar in quarter final stage
-
FIFA WOrld Cup Qualifiers1 year agoUganda win, Tanzania pick late draw in FIFA World Cup qualifiers
-
FIFA U-17 World Cup 202510 months agoUganda ejects Senegal to storm FIFA U-17 World Cup round of 16
-
CECAFA11 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
NEWS5 years agoYoung Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
-
NEWS5 years agoCECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup: Ethiopia face tough Burundi hurdle