Each team will be allowed to field three over age players at the U-23 CECAFA Challenge Cup.
The regional tournament will be played in Bahir Dar between July 3-18th.

According to the rules and regulations of the tournament, the competition is limited to players 23 years old or young and each team will be allowed three over age players.

CECAFA has stated that all players of the teams must have been born on or after 1st, January, 1998 and the lower limit must be at least 18 years by the end of the calendar year in which the competition is played.

Incase a member association has fielded more than three over age players, that player shall be disqualified and nor replaced, while the team could face disqualification, a ban or asked to pay a fine.

The U-23 team of the Democratic Republic of Congo team will play in the tournament as a guest side.

CECAFA members agreed in March this year before the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) held in Morocco that the Challenge Cup in 2021 will be played by the U-23 teams. Each member Association is however expected to contribute US$20,000 for their team to participate.

South Sudan head coach Ashu Cyprian Besong has dropped striker Tito Okello Odong from the squad traveling to face Jordan in the preliminary round of the FIFA Arab Cup.

The Bright Star will face Jordan on June 21st at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar.

Okello who features for Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia FC netted the lone goal when the Bright Star beat Uganda 1-0 in the Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier last year.

The striker who ditched Uganda to play for South Sudan because he was not being considered for the national team was among the players dropped before the team leaves on Friday. The other players dropped include; Lual Daniel Gumnok, Wani Ivan Marcello, Jackson Morgan Obede and goalkeeper Mawien Khon Arop.

“We have been training hard and the team will go out to Doha to try and get a good result,” said South Sudan’s coach Besong.

South Sudan squad

Goalkeepers: Majak Mawith, Ramadan John, Khamis Daniel
Defenders: Dhata Joseph, Peter Maker, Rashid Toha Rashid, Mutwakil Abdelkharim, Omot Sebit, Rehan Angier
Midfielders: Musa Asad, Stephen Pawar, Gibson Wande
Forwards: Kur Gai, Makueth Wol,Valentino Kudon Yuel, Aluk Akech, John Albino

The Falcons of Sudan have arrived in Doha, Qatar ahead of the preliminary match against Libya in the 2021.

Coach Hubert Velud’s side arrived on Wednesday night ahead of the match slated for June 19th at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha.

Velud said the two friendly matches they played against Zambia have helped the team prepare well ahead of the match against Libya. Sudan beat Zambia 3-2 in the first friendly match, while Zambia revenged winning 1-0 in the second match, all played in Khartoum.

“We have prepare well and I am optimistic we shall play well and go all out to try and qualify for the next round of the FIFA Arab Cup,” added the coach.

Besides Sudan, the other teams from the CECAFA region include Somalia who will face Oman, South Sudan will take on Jordan, while Djibouti battle Lebanon.

Sudan’s squad

Goalkeepers: Ali Abdallah, Mohamed Alnour, Mohamed Mustafa
Defenders: Samwal Mergani, Faris Abdallah, Mohamed Ahmed, Amir Kamal, Ahmed Abdalmonem, Athir Altahir, Rami, Hussain Ibrahim
Midfielders: Nasralden Omer, Abuagla Abdallah, Walaaldin Khidir, Diaalden Mahgoub, Altag Yagoub, Sharafalden Shaiboub, Maaz Abdulrahim
Strikers: Walid Bakhit, Mohamed Abdulrahman, Algozoli Mouh, Saifalden Malik, Yassin Hamid

Burundi’s head coach has invited 29 players to start training ahead of the U-23 CECAFA Challenge Cup slated for July 3-18 in Ethiopia.

Jimmy Ndayizeye who also handles the senior national team named the team this morning with training expected to start on Thursday at the Urukundo Stadium.

Already all the member Associations under the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) have confirmed participation. The DR Congo U-23 team have also been confirmed as the guest team.

CECAFA members agreed in March this year before the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) held in Morocco that the Challenge Cup is this year played by the U-23 teams. Each member Association is however expected to contribute US$20,000 for their team to participate.

Squad
Onesime Rukundo (Messager Ngozi), Patient Ndikuriyo (Kayanza United), Ismail Wilonja (Musongati FC), Blanchard Ngabonziza (Aigle Noir CS), Henry Musaga (Aigle Noir CS), Narcisse Masudi (Aigle Noir CS), Asman Ndikumana (Aigle Noir CS), Karim Abdoul Barandondera (Flambeau du Centre), Beni Irakoze (Flambeau du Centre), Mohamed Djuma (Flambeau du Centre), Paplay Rahman Rukundo (Flambeau du Centre), Herve Mohamed (Kayanza United), Christian Aime Kanyamuneza (Kayanza United), Charles Bumwe (Kayanza United), Flavier Ingabire (Kayanza United), Abdi Ndayikeza (Musongati FC), Franck Nduwimana (Musongati FC), Moussa Muryango (Musongati FC), Arthur Nibikora (Messager Ngozi), Armel Eza (Messager Ngozi), Joseph Kashindi (Messager Ngozi), Adolphe Hakizimana (Messager Ngozi), Eric Mbirizi (Inter Stars), Adolphe Ngabirano (Athletico Academy), Danny Ndikumana (Athletico Academy), Hubert Issa Nsabimana (Musongati FC), Ismail Nshimirimana (Rukinzo FC), Therence Rukundo, darcy Nshimirimana (Royal FC).