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Al Hilal progress to second qualifying round of Arab Club Champions Cup

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Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman have progressed to the second qualifying round of the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup.

Coach Florent Ibenge’s team qualified on a 4-2 goal aggregate on Monday night to make it to the next stage.

Ali Hilal defeated Bahrain’s Manama FC 3-0 in the first leg played in Khartoum, but lost 2-1 in the return leg played at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium on Monday. Ghanaian forward David Sandan Abgna gave the Sudan Premier League side the lead after 23 minutes.

But the home side fought back strongly to score through a penalty after 3 minutes through Isa Moosa and four minutes later Ebrahim Al-Khatal made it 2-1. But Al-Hilal returned in the second half and defended well to deny Manama more goals.

Ibenge’s team will now face Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien in the second qualifying round. CS Sfaxien saw off Qatar SC in the first round.

Another Sudan Premier League side Al Merriekh was last night ejected by Syrian Premier League side, Tishreen.

After winning the first leg 2-1, the Sudan team suffered a 1-0 defeat and Tishreen qualified on the away goal’s rule.

Djibouti’s AS Arta Solar 7 and Horseed FC (Somalia) are the other teams from the CECAFA Zone that played in the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup.

The 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, also known as the King Salman Club Cup has this year attracted 37 teams from Asia and Africa. The group stages of the Cup will be played in July, while the final is slated for August 5th, 2023.

The Cup with a US$10 million of prize money will see the winners bag US$6,000,000, while the runners-up will pocket US $2,500,000. The semi-finalists will take US$200,000, quarter-finalists US$150,000, and the teams in the group stage US$100,000, and Preliminary round US$20,000.

CHAN QUALIFIERS

Rwanda qualify for last stage of CHAN 2025 qualifiers

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The Amavubi of Rwanda are through to the last phase of the TotalEnergies Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 qualifiers.

After losing the first leg 1-0 to Djibouti few days ago, Rwanda returned a changed side to defeat the same side 3-1 in the return leg played at the Amahoro Stadium on Thursday in Kigali.

Cheered on by the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, the Amavubi took an early lead through Olivier Dushimimana after 10 minutes.

The striker made no mistake when he capitalized on Kevin Muhire’s cross to place the ball past Djibouti’s goalkeeper Sulait Luyima. Mahad Abdi had his shot blocked later after 19 minutes by Rwanda’s goalkeeper.

Dushimimana was at it again netting his second goal of the day after 24 minutes. After recess, the Djibouti team tried to settle down and close gaps on the pitch. But Arsene Tuyisenge made it 3-0 for the hosts at the stroke of full time.

Frank Spittler, the Rwanda coach said his players had responded well after losing the first leg. “I am happy about the way the players expressed themselves today and we need to keep working hard because there is another stage of the qualifiers,” added Spittler.

Rwanda who qualified on a 3-1 goal aggregate will now wait to gave the winner between Kenya and South Sudan in the final phase of the qualifiers.

On Sunday Tanzania will host Sudan in Dar es Salaam, while Kenya face South Sudan in Nairobi. Sudan stopped Tanzania 1-0, while South Sudan brushed aside Kenya 2-0 in the first leg.

The CECAFA Zone will be represented by four teams when the CHAN 2025 tournament takes place in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in February 2025.

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CHAN QUALIFIERS

Djibouti shock Rwanda in CHAN 2025 qualifiers

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Six teams from the CECAFA Zone were on Sunday engaged in the first preliminary round of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 qualifiers.

Djibouti who hosted the first leg at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali shocked Rwanda 1-0 with the lone goal scored by Gabriel Ddadzie.

The Djibouti team hosted the first leg away from home because they do not have a Stadium approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.

In Juba, hosts South Sudan defeated Kenya 2-0 in a match played at the Juba National Stadium. After a goalless first half, the South Sudan intensified their search for goals and scored through Ezibon Malish five minutes after restart, and Yohanna Paulino after 68 minutes.

“We are very happy to win the first leg. Now we must prepare better for the return leg to be played in Kampala, “ said South Sudan’s Coach Nicolas Dupius.

Sudan who hosted Tanzania at the National Stadium in Nouakchott, Mauritania also picked a slim 1-0 victory. Andel Raman scored the goal after 23 minutes. Eritrea and Ethiopia are also set to clash on October 31st in a match to be played in Juba, South Sudan.

The return legs will be played between November 1-3, 2024, while second round matches take centre stage between December 20-22 for the first round, and the return legs December 25-27, 2024.

The CHAN  2025 will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania between February 1-28th, 2025.

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NEWS

Dr. Motsepe deserves to be re-elected CAF President – Wallace Karia

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The President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Wallace Karia has made it clear that Dr. Patrice Motsepe deserves to be re-elected as President of the African Football body, CAF.

Karia, also President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) says that he was one of the Presidents who convinced Motsepe to seek-re-election.

“We have convinced Motsepe to stand again for re-election because he deserves it basing on his contribution towards Football development in Africa and CECAFA,” says Karia.

On Friday CAF confirmed that Dr. Motsepe will contest the CAF Presidential Elections next year. “Following requests from numerous CAF Member Association Presidents, Zonal Union Presidents and key stakeholders, the CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe has finally agreed to stand as a candidate at the CAF Presidential Elections scheduled for March 2025,” said the communication.

Dr. Motsepe assumed the CAF presidency on 12th, March 2021, succeeding Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar. He has been widely acknowledged for his positive influence on CAF’s governance and reputation.

His administration has emphasised transparency, accountability, and robust governance reforms. During his time as President of CAF, the CAF Women’s Champions League has also been introduced, and there have also been increases in cash prizes across all tournaments.

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CHAN QUALIFIERS

Somalia pull out of CHAN 2025 qualifiers

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Somalia has pulled out of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) preliminary round qualifiers that kick-off this weekend.

Yusuf Ahmed, the General Secretary of the Somalia Football Federation (SFF) confirmed to Cecafaonline.com that they will not be able to field a team. “We decided to withdraw because of financial challenges,” explained Ahmed.

Burundi who were meant to face Somalia in the first round of the preliminary stage now earn a walkover where they will face Uganda in the final phase.

Meanwhile, in the other CHAN 2025 qualifiers for the teams in the CECAFA Zone Sudan will host Tanzania in a first leg match to be played on October 27th, 2024 in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The same day South Sudan will play host to Kenya at the Juba National Stadium.

Djibouti who donot have a stadium cleared by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will also host the first leg against Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Sunday.

The return legs will be played between November 1-3, 2024, while second round matches take centre stage between December 20-22 for the first round, and the return legs December 25-27, 2024.

The tournament will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania between February 1-28th, 2025. CECAFA will have four teams play in the CHAN 2024, while all the other Zones COSAFA, WAFU A, WAFU B, UNAF and UNIFFAC will have three teams each.

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