NEWS
Burundi to face Kenya in CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup semi final
Coach Jimmy Ndayizeye’s Burundi team has qualified for the semi-final stage where they will face the Kenya Emerging Stars in the semi-final at the on-going CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup in Ethiopia.
Burundi fought from a goal down to hold the hosts Ethiopia to a 1-1 draw at the Bahir Dar International Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Ethiopia’s skipper Abubeker Nasir Ahmed and William Solomon Tesfaye kept the Burundi defenders busy for most of the first 30 minutes, but they failed to get an early goal.
After 40 minutes Burundi’s Asman Ndikumana had a clear chance, but headed wide from a well taken free kick. The Burundian defenders later failed to clear their lines to give Beshal Gugsa Chernet chance to slot the ball past goalkeeper Onesime Rukundo.
In the second half Burundi made some changes which eventually paid off when they leveled matters after 65 minutes. Defender Issa Hakizimana jumped high to nod in Ismail Nshimirimana’s well taken corner kick.
Ethiopia continued to push forward to try and find the winning goal, but failed to break the Burundian defenders who made several timely clearances.
As the Burundi team progresses to the semi final stage, hosts Ethiopia will have to wait for the results in the other groups to progress if they come out as second best. Burundi will now wait to face Kenya who topped Pool C with six points from two wins.
“It has been a very tough game and Ethiopia kept us under a lot of pressure. But I am glad we managed to get the draw and progress to the semi finals,” said Burundi’s coach Ndayizeye.
Wubetu Abate, the Ethiopian coach blamed it on failing to take their chances. “We created so many chances and failed to take them,” said a disappointed Abate.
Pool B final table standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Burundi 2 1 1 0 4 1 3 4
Ethiopia 2 0 2 0 4 4 0 2
Eritrea 2 0 1 1 3 6 -3 1
Uganda Cranes attacking midfielder Allan Okello has completed a move to Morocco’s Premier League – Botola Pro side, AS FAR Rabat.
The 26-year old was unveiled by the Club on Friday. He joins the Moroccan side on a three year deal.
“I am very excited to join a big team like AS FAR. I promise to do my best to help the team to win titles,” added Okello.
Okello moves from Tanzania Premier League side Young Africans SC who he only joined late last year.
The midfielder delivered a commendable performance netting 14 goals and 8 assists in the seven months he spent with the Tanzanian Champions.
Before joining Young Africans SC, Okello also helped Vipers SC win a double in the 2024/2025 season.
Okello returns to North Africa having featured for Algeria’s Premier League side between 2020-2023.
In Uganda Okello made his breakthrough in School Football before joining Premier League side KCCA FC who he helped reach the group stage of the 2028/2029 CAF Champions League.
The attacking midfielder is also remembered for missing a penalty in a crucial group match against Tanzania at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Gaadiidka FC are the 2025/2026 Somali Premier League champions.
In a deciding match played at the Mogadishu Stadium on Friday, Gaadiidka FC secured a goalless draw against third placed Dekedaha FC to finish top.
The draw saw Gaadiidka FC finish with 51 points, while Heegan FC came second with 50 points. The 2024/2025 winners Mogadishu City FC finished in 4th place with 42 points.
It is the second time Gaadiidka FC win the Somali Premier League after they first secured it in the 2021/2022 season.
Jubba FC and Gantaalaha FC that finished 12th and 11th respectively have been relegated to the lower Division.
Sudan’s Al Hilal SC have been drawn against Burundi Premier League champions Aigle Noir CS in the first preliminary round of the 2026/2027 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The draw was conducted on Friday in Cairo, Egypt.
The 2025/2026 quarter finalists Al Hilal SC will play the first leg in Burundi between September 4-6th, and later hosts their return leg in Kigali between September 11-13th.
Incase they go past the first hurdle, Sudan’s Al Hilal SC will then face the winner between Aigloms FC N’Djamena (Chad) and Sidaama Buna FC (Ethiopia).
“The CECAFA Kagame Cup has given us good preparations ahead of the CAF Champions League,” says Al Hilal SC head coach Guy Bukasa Misakabu.
South Sudan Premier League champions El Merriekh SC Bentiu will also make a return to the competition when they face Heegan SC (Somalia), while Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) take on Pyramids FC (Egypt) in the first preliminary round.
Uganda’s Vipers SC will take on Mauritania’s giants FC Nouadhibou, APR FC (Rwanda) face Les Aigles Du Congo, while Young Africans SC (tanzania) play Botswana’s Gaborone Utd FC.
The three highest-ranked clubs earned a bye through the first preliminary round: South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance and Renaissance Berkane.
The second preliminary round follows a similar pattern. First legs fall between 16 and 18 October, and the return matches take place from the 23rd to the 25th.
Fresh from taking part in the CECAFA Kagame Cup, Mogadishu City Club FC will face Kitara FC (Uganda) in the first preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The two teams were drawn together during the official draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.
Mogadishu City Club who will host their matches in Nairobi, Kenya will play the first leg at home before traveling to Uganda. The first leg matches will take place September 4-6th, while the return legs are slated for September 11-13th.
The winner between the Ugandan team and Mogadishu City Club will face African giants Al Ahly SC in the second preliminary in October.
Sudan’s Al Hilal Alsahii and Walwalo Adigrat USC (Ethiopia) will also face off, with the winner facing the winner between KMKM SC (Zanzibar) and Al Ahly Tripoli in the second preliminary round.
Tanzania Premier League side who were exempted from the first preliminary round will face the winner between ZED FC (Egypt) and ASAS Djibouti Tel.
Rwanda’s Rayon Sport FC who are in the CECAFA Kagame Cup final on Friday will tussle it out with Pathere Sportive FC in the first round, while Burundi’s Rukinzo FC take on Durban City FC (South Africa) in the first preliminary round.
Two other matches involving teams from the CECAFA Zone will see Al Ahli Madani (Sudan) face Tusker FC (Kenya), while South Sudan’s Al-Ghazala SC battle Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania).
The Second Preliminary Round will begin from October 16-18, before the decisive return legs are staged from October 23-25.
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