The new President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam has officially assumed office at the CECAFA headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

He was warmly received by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President, Hussein Mohamed.

Flanked by CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde and CECAFA Vice President Ali Abdi, Andermariam outlined his bold vision for a more revitalized and impactful CECAFA.

The new President said his mission centers on strengthening institutional structures, enhancing strategic partnerships – particularly with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports – and driving sustainable growth across the region.

Having earlier in the day met Ministry of Youth and Sports CS Elijah Mwangi, he revealed established and ongoing engagements between CECAFA and the Ministry aimed at establishing a permanent CECAFA Headquarters in Nairobi. This is deemed at enhancing CECAFA stability and regional influence.

He emphasized the need for more capacitated human resources to elevate the game, especially as the region—Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania – prepares to co-host Africa’s biggest football tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations.

In his remarks, Hussein Mohamed welcomed the new President, pledging full support and collaboration to ensure CECAFA achieves its strategic objectives.

The event was attended by the CECAFA Vice-President and members of the CECAFA Secretariat, and former FKF Vice President Doris Petra. The new CECAFA President takes over from Alexandre Muyenge who served as the Acting President since late last year.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) will have seven tournaments in the 2026 season.

The announcement was made during the CECAFA Elective General Assembly which took place on February 7^th in Djibouti.

“We are glad that the competitions committee came up with a calendar and the Executive Committee passed it, and later it was presented to the Assembly,” said the newly elected CECAFA President Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam.

According to the calendar, the season will kick off with the CECAFA U-17 Girls Championship from May 30 to June 14^th, 2026.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager also explained that after failing to host the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship last year, the regional body is planning to have the tournament take place July 1-5^th this year. “It is long overdue for the Zone to have a Beach Soccer tournament because other Zones like the COSAFA already have one,” added Mossi.

The Zone will also organize the club competition, the CECAFA Kagame Cup from July 18 to August 9^th. The competition is normally used to prepare teams in the pre-season ahead of the start of the Confederation of Africa Football Associations (CAF) competitions.

The Zone will also organize the CAF Women’s Champions League for CECAFA qualifiers, African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers, CAF U-17 African Cup of Nations CECAFA qualifiers and CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations  CECAFA qualifiers.

CECAFA 2026 competitions

# CECAFA U-17 Girls Championship (May 14-June 14^th)

# CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship (July 1-5)

# CECAFA Kagame Cup (July 18 – August 9^th)

# CAF Women’s Champions League – CECAFA Qualifiers

(August 22 – September 6^th)

# CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers

(August 12-15^th)

# U-17 AFCON – CECAFA Qualifiers (October 14-19^th)

# U-20 AFCON – CECAFA Qualifiers

(September 19 – October 10^th)

Tanzania’s JKT Queens marched into the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers semifinals with a 2-0 victory over South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars at Kasarani Stadium on Thursday.

With a semifinal slot on the line, both sides displayed discipline early on, keeping tight spaces and relying on short passing. JKT looked sharper in attack, but Yei’s goalkeeper Nawal Majok produced brilliant saves to keep her side alive in the opening half. The game went into the break goalless, but full of promise.

The second half saw JKT raise their intensity. Just minutes after the restart, Jamila Rajab broke through Yei’s defense to calmly slot home the opener.

In the 68th minute, Esther Maseke doubled the lead with a curling strike that Majok could only get a hand to. Yei struggled to keep possession and found it hard to recover as JKT grew in confidence with their two-goal cushion.

“We were facing a better side—stronger and more tactical. That’s why we applied a defensive approach,” explained Yei Joint Stars coach Yamba Yves after the match.

The result sealed JKT’s place at the top of Group C, setting up a mouth-watering semifinal clash against hosts Kenya Police Bullets. In the other semifinal, Uganda’s Kampala Queens will take on Rwanda’s Rayon Sports on 14th September.

Kenya Police Bullets FC marched into the semifinals of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers after a 2-0 victory over Eritrea’s Denden FC in a Group A clash at Nyayo Stadium.

The home side looked lively from the onset, pressing high and creating several goal-scoring opportunities. Their early dominance paid off in the 7th minute when Emily Kemunto struck to hand Police the lead. Despite squandering more chances, the Bullets doubled their advantage in the 34th minute through Zaina Namuleme, who coolly slotted home from a well-worked move.

Police went into the break 2-0 up, but Denden returned for the second half more organized defensively. The Eritrean side held firm, frustrating Coach Beldine Odemba’s charges, who were left ruing missed opportunities to kill off the game.

Despite enjoying better spells in midfield, Denden FC failed to carve out clear-cut chances to trouble the Bullets’ backline. In the end, the Kenyan champions secured all three points.

Though out of the tournament Denden FC Coach Rezene Gebregiorgis hailed his team composure having settled in from the first game anxiety. With a young team he felt the experience gathered is good for the teams growth and expects to be better with time.

Kenya Police Bullets have now confirmed their place in the semifinals, finishing top of Group A. They now await the winner of Group C who will either be JKT Queens or Yei Joint Stars in the Semi Final stage