Tanzania’s Debora Salala and Vincent Kizza Mawanda have been voted the best players in the just concluded CAF African Schools Football Zonal qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.

Salala was voted best Girls players after playing a pivotal role in helping here team retain the trophy, while Mawanda was also outstanding for Uganda in the Boys category.

During the Awards ceremony at the climax of the tournament at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday, the duo received their separate Awards courtesy of CAF and sponsors TotalEnergies  

Tanzania’s Rukia Seleman and Uganda’s Stuart Mukasa also scooped the Best goalkeeper’s Awards in the Girls and Boys categories respectively.

Kenya’s Abigael Cheruto who netted nine goals picked the Top scorer’s Award for the Girls category, and Uganda’s Kennedy Okwi was the top scorer for the Boys category. Uganda and Burundi scooped the Fairplay Award for the Girls and Boys categories respectively.

The Awards Ceremony was graced by the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) 2nd Vice President Richard Mugisha, Uganda Football Federation (FUFA) 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha, CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde and a representative from the Sports Ministry in Rwanda, Fabrice Uwayo among others.

Uganda and Tanzania have emerged winners of the CAF African Schools Football CECAFA qualifiers 2026.

It was a repeat of the 2025 edition as Uganda won the Boys category and Tanzania lifted the Girls category silverware.

The Ugandan team defeated a hard fighting Rwanda side 1-0 in the Boys final, while Tanzania saw off Kenya 3-0 in the Girls final all played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday.

Kennedy Okwi netted the lone goal for Uganda after 39 minutes to silence the home side.

“I am very happy that my team has worked hard won four matches and drew once in all the matches we played in the tournament,” said a happy coach of Uganda’s team Richard Malinga, a former Ugandan International.

In the earlier Girls final Salah Msagala, Eva Maiope and Anna Pascal scored to ensure Tanzania saw off Kenya and retain their title.

In the Play-off matches to decide which teams finish third,  Uganda defeated Rwanda 2-0 in the Girls category, while Tanzania stopped South Sudan 2-0 in the Boys category.

Besides the medals the winners in each category received cheques worth US$100,00, runners-up US$75,000 and third placed US$50,000. The cash prizes contributed by the Motespe Foundation is earmarked for development purposes in the different schools.

The Awards Ceremony was graced by the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) 2^nd Vice President Richard Mugisha, Uganda Football Federation (FUFA) 1^st Vice President Justus Mugisha, CECAFa Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde and a representative from the Sports Ministry in Rwanda, Fabrice Uwayo among others.

Hosts Rwanda will face Uganda in the Boys final at the on-going CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers in Kigali.

After topping Group A in the earlier stage, Rwanda battled to a goalless draw in the allotted 40 minutes against South Sudan in the semi final played at the FERWAFA Technical Center ground on Friday.

Rwanda eventually sailed through 8-7 on penalty shootouts to send the home fans cheering.

They will now face Uganda in the final on Saturday. Uganda who won the title last year edged Tanzania 3-1 in the first semi final match with Kenneth Okwi netting a brace and Joshua Agaba also on the score sheet for Uganda. Is-haka Mpemba scored for Tanzania.

In the Girls category the 2025 winners Tanzania defeated Uganda 2-0 in the first semi-final match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium. Debora Salala and Salah Msagala scored the goals.

The second semi-final match ended in a draw, but Kenya were a better side in spot kicks winning 5-4.

Action returns at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday with the play-offs for third place taking place first as Uganda face Rwanda in the Girls category, and Tanzania battle South Sudan in the Boys category.

The finals will see Tanzania take on Kenya in the Girls final, and Uganda face Rwanda in the Boys final.

The winners in each category will take US$100,000, runners-up US$75,000, and the third placed team US$50,000.

The tournament supported by the Motsepe Foundation earmarks the cash prizes won by the best teams to improve school infrastructure, such as building classrooms, upgrading sports facilities, or installing clean water systems.

Uganda’s two teams have made a good start on Day 1 of the on-going 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers.

The Ugandan team brushed aside South Sudan 1-0, and humbled Burundi 3-0 in Group B matches they played at the FERWAFA Technical Centre ground on Thursday.

Kennedy Okwi netted a brace, while Andrew Sseguya and Vincent Kizza Mawada also scored to ensure Uganda collected six points and are top of the Group.

“We are happy with the two wins on Day 1 and we shall continue to focus and win the remaining group match on Friday before we turn focus to the semi-finals,” said Uganda’s Boys coach and former Uganda Cranes International Richard Malinga.

Somalia who shocked Burundi 2-1 are second in Group B, while South Sudan and Burundi are yet to pick a point. Rwanda who defeated Sudan 6-0 and drew goalless with Tanzania lead Group A with 4 points, ahead of Tanzania who have the same number of points, but a lower goal difference.

In the Girls category Uganda’s team also collected maximum points in two Group A matches played at the Kigali Pele Stadium. Uganda defeated Burundi 3-0 in their opening match, and followed it with a 1-0 victory against the hosts Rwanda to lead Group A. Rwanda with 3 points are second in the Group, while South Sudan and Burundi have collected a point each from two matches played.

The Girls defending champions Tanzania lead Group B with 4 points after they saw off Somalia 5-0, after they had been held to a goalles draw against Kenya. Somalia who thrashed Sudan 5-0 and lost to Tanzania are second with 3 points, while Kenya have a point, and Sudan with no point are bottom of the log.

Action continues on Friday with more Group matches and the semi-finals.

The winners in each category will take US$100,000, runners-up US$75,000, and the third placed team US$50,000. The winners in category will also represent the CECAFA Zone at the continental level.

Boys

Group A

                      P   W    D    L    GF   GA  GD  Pts

Rwanda        2    1     1    0    6      0     6     4

Tanzania       2    1     1    0    4      0     4    4

Kenya            2    0     1    1    0      4    -4    1

Sudan            2    0     1    1     0     6    -6    1

Group B

                       P   W    D    L   GF  GA  GD  Pts

Uganda         2    2     0    0    4     0     4    6

Somalia        1    1     0    0    2     1     1    3

S.Sudan        1    0     0    1    0     1    -1    0

Burundi        2    0     0    2    1     5    -4    0

Girls

Group A

                  P   W    D    L   GF  GA  GD  Pts

Uganda    2    2     0    0    4     0     4    6

Rwanda   2    1     0    1    1     1     0    3

S. Sudan  2     0     1    1    0     1   -1    1

Burundi   2     0     1    0    0     3    -3   1

Group B

                  P   W    D    L   GF  GA  GD  Pts

Tanzania  2    1     1    0    5     0     5    4

Somalia    2    1     0    1    5     5     0    3

Kenya       1    0     1    0    0     0     0    1

Sudan       1     0    0    1    0     5    -5    0