U-17 AFCON Qualifiers

CECAFA confirm dates for U-17 Zonal qualifiers

Published

3 years ago

August 3, 2022

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_{The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has confirmed dates for the U-17 AFCON Zonal qualifiers to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.}

_{Auka Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director has confirmed that the Zonal qualifier will take place September 30th to October 15th.}

_{“Following several consultations with the Ethiopia Football Federation, we confirm that the U-17 AFCON Zonal qualifiers will take place in Addis Ababa between September 30th to October 5th,” said Gecheo.}

_{The CECAFA Executive Director also asked clubs to register before the deadline on September 20th, 2022. He also made it clear that the draw for the competition will be conducted on September 16th, 2022.}

_{He said that teams will be expected to arrive in Ethiopia on September 26th to undergo MRI tests to be supervised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).}

_{Algeria are expected to hosts the AFCON U-17 tournament in 2023.}

_{Uganda are the reigning champions after defeating Tanzania in the final of the Zonal qualifier in 2022 played in Rwanda.}

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Defending champs Somalia to face Kenya in Zonal U-17 AFCON qualifiers

AFCON U-17 qualifiers

Somalia battle South Sudan in AFCON U-17 Zonal qualifier opening tie

Published

4 weeks ago

November 15, 2025

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It is kick-off Day today in the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ethiopia.

The 2023 Zonal champions Somalia will take to the field first against South Sudan in a Group A match at the Abebe Bika Stadium in Addis Ababa.

Daadir Amin Ali, Somalia’s head coach has made it clear that they have the confidence to win the opening match against South Sudan. “We have prepared well and call upon Ethiopians to come and watch good Football,” added Ali.

But the head coach Mawien Deng Ajiing has said his team will be up to the task to have a good start. “We know that every match in this qualifier is very important and we shall take it with a lot of caution,” added Ajiing.

Hosts Ethiopia who are hungry to qualify for the final tournament will face Rwanda in the second Group A match at the same Stadium.

At the Dire Dawa Stadium, the 2024 runners-up Tanzania will open against Sudan in a Group B tie, while Burundi take on defending champions Uganda in the second match.

The best two teams from each group will qualify to play in the semi final stage. The losers at the semi final stage will tussle it out for the bronze medal, while the winner play in the final. The champions, first runner up and second runner up will represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies AFCON 2026.

Meanwhile, the CECAFA Competitions Manager Yussuf Mossi has lauded the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) for accepting to host the AFCON U-17 Zonal qualifiers.

“We deeply appreciate the EFF for embracing this opportunity. This is crucial for the future of regional football and allows Ethiopia to build vital experience in organizing continental tournaments, which aligns with their ambitious goal of hosting the AFCON in 2029,” added Mossi.

AFCON U-17 qualifiers

Defending champs Somalia to face Kenya in Zonal U-17 AFCON qualifiers

Published

1 year ago

November 28, 2024

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The 2022 champions Somalia have been drawn to face Kenya in the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) – CECAFA qualifiers.

The tournament which will bring together eight teams will take place at the Hamz Stadium in Nakivubo and St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende in Uganda between December 14-27^th, 2024.

The draw conducted by Jean Namayega Sseninde, the CECAFA Women’s Football Development Manager saw Somalia placed in Group B alongside South Sudan, Sudan and Kenya.

Hosts Uganda were drawn in Group A where they will face Ethiopia, Tanzania and Burundi.

“We expect a very competitive tournament with the youngsters expressing themselves as much as possible,” added Sseninde.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director says all teams will have their players undergo the mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests to determine if they are eligible to play in the tournament.

The best two teams will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF U-17 AFCON tournament to take place in 2025.

In the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-17 CECAFA qualifiers held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2022, Somalia beat South Sudan 3-1 in the final.

Group A: Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi

Group B: Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya