The President of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF), Isayas Jira has said he is ready to work hard together with other members on the Executive Committee of CAF.

Jira was last month co-opted by the CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe on the CAF Executive Committee during a meeting in Cote d’Ivoire on the sidelines of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Jira who has also been the Vice President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) replaces former Somali Football Federation (SFF) President, Abdigani Said Arab on the CAF Executive Committee.

“Thank you everyone for the support and I am ready to work with everyone to make football better in Africa,” said Isayas during the CECAFA General Assembly taking place at the Pride Inn Paradise Hotel in Mombasa.

At the same General Assembly, CECAFA President Wallace Karia proposed to the members of the Assembly to have the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) President Augustino Maduot elevated to position of Vice President, and the President of the Somali Football Federation (SFF), Ali Abdi Mohamed appointed on the Executive Committee. The Assembly confirmed the two members on the CECAFA Executive Committee.

“I take this opportunity to thank all of you for the confidence as we strive to develop football I the Zone,” said Maduot.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has awarded Zanzibar the hosting rights for the 2024 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

This was announced during the CECAFA General Assembly that is ongoing at the Pride Inn Paradise Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya.

Isayas Jira, the CECAFA Vice President who is also the Chairman of the Competitions Committee made the announcement. He said the decision was arrived during the CECAFA Executive meeting held on February 22^nd, 2024.

“We brought back the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup because of marketing issues,” added Isayas. We also appointed six members to make change some for our tournaments,” added Isayas.

The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup returns after it last took place 2019 in Uganda. President, of the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF) Suleiman Mahmoud Jabir said he was happy that the Senior Challenge Cup is returning. “For us Senior Challenge Cup is like a World Cup and having it back will perhaps help strength our teams to even qualify more for AFCON,” added Jabir.

Zanzibar has also been awarded the rights to host the CAF Africa Schools Football Championship CECAFA Zonal qualifiers.

Uganda were awarded the rights to host the AFCON U-17 Boys CECAFA Zonal qualifiers, while Tanzania host the AFCON U-20 CECAFA Zonal qualifiers.

Ethiopia were awarded to host the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers, and the CECAFA U-20 Girls Championship.

The non-elective General Assembly of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) will take place at the Pride Inn Paradise Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya on February 23^rd, 2024.

CAF General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba will grace the Assembly which will attract all the 12 Member Associations to be represented by their Presidents and General Secretaries.

The Assembly to be chaired by the CECAFA President, Wallace Karia will among other things discuss and ratify the CECAFA competitions and the calendar for the year 2024 – 2025, and also announce the Member Associations who won bids to host particular tournaments.

CECAFA Executive Director Auka Gecheo also confirmed that other CAF officials who will grace the CECAFA Assembly include; Sarah Mukuna (Director of Member Associations), Genan Korra (Head of Zonal Union Affairs) and the Director of Legal Affairs, Felix Majani.

FIFA will be represented by the Director of Member Associations-Africa, Gelson Fenandes and Davis Ndayisenga, Manager of FIFA’s Regional Development Office in Kigali, Rwanda.

The six tournaments the CECAFA Zone will organize in 2024 include; AFCON U-17 Boys CECAFA Zonal qualifiers, AFCON U-20 Boys CECAFA Zonal qualifiers, CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal qualifiers, CAF Africa Schools Football Championship CECAFA Zonal qualifiers, CECAFA U-20 Girls Championship and the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.