Top stories
CAF CONFEDERATION CUP: Big tasks await Cecafa teams in second leg ties
Five teams from the Cecafa region will face tricky battles in the return legs of the Total CAF Confederation Cup play-off round. In the first leg ties played last weekend all Cecafa representatives failed to win with Young Africans (Tanzania) falling 2-1 to Pyramids (Egypt) in Dar es salaam.
Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia FC also settled for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo’s Motema Pembe in Nairobi, while Algeria’s Paradou AC held KCCA FC (Uganda) to a barren draw in Kampala. Kenya’s Bandari FC lost 4-2 away to Guinea’s Horoya AC. Uganda’s Proline FC put up a spirited fight to hold Libya’s Al-Masr 2-2 in a game played in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.
But KCCA FC’s head coach Mike Hillary Mutebi says they have a chance to turn tables in Algeria. “It is unfortunate we failed to score at home, but we a lot of discipline in defending and taking our chances in-front of goal we can make it to the group stage,” said Mutebi.
For Proline FC’s Mustafa Mujuzi who scored one of the goals in the vital 2-2 away draw, he thinks they still have a lot to do if they are to make history and qualify for the group stage.
“We need to be very cautious and defend well, but also make sure we are sharp at goal. We call upon football fans to come in big numbers to give us support because this match means a lot for us,” added Mujuzi.
Gor Mahia’s British born coach Steven Polack says although they deserved to win the first leg, he will change strategy for the return leg. “We created so many chances but failed to score. The players must remain focused for the return leg and have the confidence that we can get a positive result to qualify for the group stage,” added Polack.
Experienced Football administrator Souleiman Hassan Waberi has been re-elected President of the Djibouti Football Federation (DFF).
Waberi returned un-opposed for another four year-term in office during the General Assembly held at the National Technical Centre in Djibouti on Saturday.
“I am happy and glad that I have been re-elected to lead Football in Djibouti. I thank all the voters for having confidence in me,” said a happy Waberi.
“I and my committee can’t do anything without you stakeholders. We succeeded 98% of the development programs I pledged in front of you four years ago. Once again I count on you and I want you to work harder than you have been working with us in the past and surely we can reach a higher level in football,” said Waberi.
He also thanked the Minister for youth and sport, Hassan Mohamed Kamil for his long-standing contribution to football in the country. “On behalf of Djiboutian football family, I am very grateful to the President of the Republic His Excellency Ismael Omar Guelleh for his constant commitment to youth and sport and football in particular,” he added.
Waberi who is also the third Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in March 2025 will be vying for the FIFA Council seat.
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
-
CECAFA10 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
Top stories5 years agoWe need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino
-
CECAFA5 years agoCecafa mourns former chairman Tesfaye Ghebreyesus
-
NEWS3 years agoFIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers: Eritrea ejects Djibouti 6-1 on aggregate
-
CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship1 year agoSemi-final stage set for CECAFA U-18 Championship 2023
-
CAF5 years agoCAF approves dates for 2020 Total African Nations Championship in Cameroon
-
NEWS3 years agoYoung Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
-
CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup5 months agoHay Al Wadi, Al Hilal qualify for knock out stage of CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup