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
Aigle Noir Club Sportif are champions of the 2025/2026 Primus Burundi Premier League.
The Makamba based team was crowned last Saturday after their last match that saw them defeat Garage Express FC 1-0.
After 30 matches played Aigle Noir CS finished with 71 points, while Musongati FC came second with 59 points, Flambeau du Centre finished in third place with 56 points.
Aigle Noir CS player Abdi Ineza finished as top scorer with 16 goals.
The three relegated teams include; BG Green Farmers FC, Garage Express FC and Burundi Sport Dynamik.
Aigle Noir CS who are also in the final of the Burundi Cup will now represent Burundi in the 2026/2027 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
El Merriekh SC Bentiu are the undisputed giants of South Sudan Football in the 2026 season.
A week a goal El Merriekh SC Bentiu emerged champions of the South Sudan Premier League, and today they defeated Al Ghazala 2-1 to lift the South Sudan Cup.
Saleh Ishimwe scored after 32 minutes to give El Merriekh SC Bentiu a 1-0 first half lead at the Juba National Stadium.
After recess Gaetan Masha got his name on the score sheet to make it 2-0 for El merriekh SC Bentiu after 50 minutes. Ayub Khoak pulled a goal back for the Al Ghazala SC team.
Coach Ibrahim Hussein thanked his team for the hard work through out the season. “It has been hard work which has seen the team perform well in the 2026 season,” said the head coach.
The El Merriekh SC Bentiu team received medals and the trophy in a ceremony graced by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Atong Kuol Manyang.
Michael Amin Francis, President of the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) and El Merriekh SC Bentiu Chairman Malual Tap Diu also attended the awarding ceremony.
El Merriekh SC Bentiu will now select to either feature in the CAF Champions League or the CAF Confederation Cup in the 2026/2027 season.
AFCON 2027 qualifiers
TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualification road map out
The qualification road map for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA (AFCON) 2027 has been released with the first group matches to be played September 21st, 2026.
Last week the FIFA Council held in Canada approved June 19th to July 17th, 2027 as the dates for the AFCON 2027 to be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
After the completion of the preliminary round that saw CECAFA teams; Somalia, Eritrea, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan make it to the group stage, the draw will now be conducted on May 19th.
A total of 48 teams, including the three Co-hosts, will participate in the qualifiers which will be played across the three FIFA International Windows. The teams will be drawn in 12 groups of four teams, and the top two in each group will qualify for AFCON 2027.
The Matchdays 1 and 2 matches will be played September 21st to October 6th, Matchdays 3 and 4 between November 9-17th, and the Matchdays 5 and 6 between March 22-30, 2027
Teams from the CECAFA Zone that will play in the group qualifiers include; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia.
Simba SC have defeated arch-rivals Young Africans SC 1-0 in the final of the Muungano Cup 2026.
Cheered on by President of Tanzania, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the two sides came all out at the New Amaan Complex on Wednesday night.
The 90 minutes action packed final did not witness goals. It was in the added 30 minutes when Zambian International Clatous Chama was brought down and Simba SC was awarded a penalty.
Selemani Mwalimu made no mistake from the spot sending Young Africans SC goalkeeper Djigui Diarra the wrong side.
It was all celebration after the final whistle. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar awarded the Cup to the champions who also bagged a cash prize of 150,000,000 Tanzania shilling.
To reach the final Simba SC ejected Mlandege FC 3-0, while the 2025 winners Young Africans SC defeated Azam FC 2-1.
The Muungano Cup was played between teams from Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Union.
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