NEWS
Africa has Football talent, says Rwanda President Paul Kagame
The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame has made it clear that there is a lot of football talent in the African continent.
“Africa has talent. There’s no doubt about it but our best players should not need to always move abroad to unleash their full potential,” said Kagame after receiving the CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 in a function that took place at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda.
Kagame together with His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco where recognized by CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe in their effort and contribution towards developing the game on the continent.
Dr. Motsepe who was accompanied by the FIFA President Gianni Infantino conferred the Awards to Kagame and the representative of King Mohammed VI and Minister of Education, Preschool and Sports, Chakib Benmoussa. The event was also attended by some Member Association Presidents and legends.
In his acceptance speak, the Rwanda President who has supported Football in the continent and has also financially supported the regional CECAFA Club Championship for over 10 years said he was happy to receive the Award with both hands.
He pointed out that throughout their struggles in Rwanda’s history, football has played a key role in uniting people. But he made it clear that a lot of effort is needed so that the best football talent in Africa does not go abroad. Kagame commended the work being done by CAF president Motsepe and FIFA head Infantino to develop the sport on the continent.
On behalf of the King of Morocco, Benmoussa thanked the CAF President for the Award and also announced that the Kingdom of Morocco has decided, together with Spain and Portugal to present a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
Dr. Motsepe said it was a special day for African football where two individuals who have contributed greatly to the development of football as a sport, were recognized.
“This ceremony today is in acknowledgment of the significant manner in which they have contributed to the development of African football,” he said, pointing out that in order for African football to progress further, partnership is needed among the 54 African nations.
Rwanda will also host the 73rd FIFA Congress at the BK Arena in Kigali 16th, March 2023.
The draw for the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) U-17 Women’s Championship 2026 will take place on May 21st, 2026 in Kampala, Uganda.
Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager confirmed that the draw will be conducted at 11.30am (East African time) at the FUFA TV headquarters in Mengo.
The tournament which will attract seven teams will take place June 13-23 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“We shall hve seven teams being drawn and placed in two groups. We are appy that for the first time Somalia and Sudan will also send Women’s teams for this Championship,” added Mossi.
The draw will be conducted the CECAFA’s Head of Marketing and Communication, Andrew Oryada.
The Championship will also help teams from our Zone that would have qualified for the last stage of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers prepare better.
The seven teams to be drawn include
Tanzania
Kenya
Uganda
Djibouti
Rwanda
Somalia
Sudan
Vipers Sports Club are champions of the 2025/2026 StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
The Kitende based side defeated Maroons FC 3-0 in a match played at the Wankulukuku Stadium on Tuesday to clinch their eighth Premier League title.
Veteran Yunus Sentamu gave Vipers SC the lead, before Usama Arafat and Karim Watambala added to more goals to ensure Vipers SC clinched the title with one more match to be played.
The win and a goalless draw by closest challengers KCCA FC against URA FC ensured Vipers bagged yet another trophy as they now have 64 points from 29 matches.
In the other matches played on Tuesday army side UPDF settled for a goalless draw against Calvary FC, while Police FC and Entebbe UPPC also drew 1-1, Bidco FC and Kitara FC drew 1-1, while Express FC and Lugazi FC also ended 0-0
Vipers SC handled by Belgian Van Jacky Minnaert will now represent Uganda in the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
CECAFA teams Sudan and Ethiopia have been placed in Group J 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA qualifiers.
In the draw conducted at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday, the two CECAFA teams were placed alongside Senegal and Mozambique.
The draw was conducted by former African football stars Max-Alain Gradel (Cote d’Ivoire), William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Essam El Hadary (Egypt) and Trésor Mputu (DR Congo).
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will co-host the tournament from June 19 June to July 17, 2027. Co-hosts will take part in qualifiers but have secured their places as co-hosts, so one team from their pool will join them.
The first matches of the group qualifiers will kick-off in September, 2026.
Group D also has two CECAFA teams Kenya and Eritrea together with South Africa and Guinea. Somalia who are making a return to the group stage of the qualifiers after several years are placed alongside Ivory Coast, Ghana and The Gambia.
The 48 teams that will play in the qualifiers have been placed into 12 groups, with the top two in each pool advancing to the continental finals.
The national team of Kenya will play two International friendly matches against Kyrgyzstan and Palestine next month.
Under the watchful eyes of head coach Benni McCarthy, the Harambee Stars will line up against Palestine on June 3rd, and three days later face hosts Kyrgyzstan.
The two matches will be played during the June FIFA international window.
The technical bench of the team has today named the squad including five new call-ups; Deon Woodman (Wealdstone FC), Sammy Hena-Kamau (Hull City), Micah Obiero (Wealdstone FC), Sydney Agina (Stoke City) and goalkeeper Caleb Kramer (ADO Den Haag).
Although they are automatic qualifiers as co-hosts of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, Kenya will also play in the qualifiers that kick-off in September 2026.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Byrne Omondi, Faruk Shikhalo, Caleb Kramer
Defenders: Erick Ouma, Stanley Wilson, Sylvester Owino, Frank Odhiambo, Alphonce Omija, Deon Woodman, Rooney Onyango, Sydney Agina
Midfielders: Richard Odada, Chris Erambo, Clarke Odour, Will Lenkupae, Austine Odhiambo, Zech Obiero
Attackers: Job Ochieng, Mohammed Bajaber, Ben Stanley, Sammy Hena-Kamau, Micah Obiero, Ryan Ogam, Lawrence Okoth
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