NEWS
CECAFA President Andemariam graces Somali Football Federation General Assembly 2026
The President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam has graced the Somali Football Federation (SFF) Annual General Assembly.
Andemariam commended SFF for the positive strides made during the Assembly held in Mogadishu on Thursday.
The Annual General Assembly brought Federation executives, regional representatives, club delegates, and key stakeholders to review the past season and set new priorities.
The assembly carried significant regional weight with the attendance of CECAFA President Paulos Weldehaimanot, who delivered a strong message of support for Somalia’s recent progress.
In his remarks, the CECAFA President praised Somalia’s historic breakthrough in Women’s football, noting that the region had long awaited the moment when Somali girls would finally compete in the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship. He highlighted the team’s memorable victory over Sudan, describing it as “a door of hope opened for Somali youth.”
He also celebrated Somalia’s rising profile on the global stage through elite referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was recently honoured as Africa’s Best Referee.
He concluded by affirming that the relationship between CECAFA and the SFF is now “stronger than ever,” and pledged continued regional support for Somalia’s football ambitions.
SFF President Ali Abdi Mohamed expressed pride in the Federation’s achievements over the past year. He noted that Somalia successfully implemented several key projects, including for the first time participation in the CECAFA Women’s Football Tournament, a milestone that marked a new chapter for the women’s game in the country.
Delegates discussed youth development, national team performance, infrastructure needs, and the expansion of women’s football.
Tanzanian International Alphonce Mabula Msanga has joined Algerian Premier League giants JS Kabylie.
The defensive midfielder who was impressive for the national team at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has signed a three year contract.
He joins the Tizi Ouzou based club as a free agent after leaving Azerbaijani side Şamaxı FK.
The 23-year old had been strongly linked with Tanzanian champions Young Africans Sports Club and another Algerian side USM Alger.
Mabula accumulated 353 minutes during the 2025 AFCON featuring with good performances against Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda and hosts Morocco. He helped Tanzania reach the round of 16 for the first time.
The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA 2026 qualifiers 2026 has been conducted on Monday at the Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda.
Hosts Tanzania have been placed in Group A that will also have Ethiopia and Rwanda.
The tournament will take place September 15-25th at the newly renovated Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
In the draw conducted by the CECAFA Competitions Manager, Yusuf Mossi and assisted by Amir Hassan, Uganda who finished runners-up in the last qualifier will face Sudan and Djibouti in Group B.
Group C will also have some tight contests as South Sudan is placed alongside Kenya and Burundi.
“The nine teams will tussle it out in the group stages and the top team from each of the three groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final together with the best second placed team,” said Mossi.
The best two teams at the Zonal qualifier will represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026.
Groups
A: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda
B: Uganda, Sudan, Djibouti
C: South Sudan, Kenya, Burundi
CA U-20 Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA qualifiers
Nine teams for CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA qualifiers
Nine teams have registered to take part in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
The regional qualifier will take place September 15-25th,2026 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager confirmed that the nine teams have entered, and only Eritrea and Somalia will miss out.
“The draw for the competition will take place on August 31st at the Kigali Pele Stadium in the Rwanda capital Kigali at 10.30am. We shall have three groups with three teams each. The top team in each group and the best second placed team from any group will qualify for the semi-final stage,” added Mossi.
He further explained that the best two teams will qualify to represent the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Tanzania are the defending champions after defeating Kenya 2-1 in the final during the 2024 Zonal qualifiers held at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Eight teams from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) have been drawn for the TotalEnergies U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers.
In the draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Egypt on Tuesday, the eight teams have all been drawn to start in the first round.
Kenya have drawn Tanzania, while Djibouti takes on South Sudan. The other fixtures will see Ethiopia take on Uganda, and Rwanda battle Sudan. The first leg matches of the first round will be played on September 28th, while the return legs will take place October 6th.
The winner between Ethiopia and Uganda over two legs will qualify to face Morocco in the second round of the qualifiers in November this year.
Senegal will await to face the winner between Djibouti and South Sudan in the second round, while the winner between Kenya and Tanzania will line-up against Cote D’Ivoire in the next round. The winner between Rwanda and Sudan will take on Cameroon in the second round.
A total of 43 nations will be engaged in the U-23 AFCON qualifiers, with hosts Egypt automatically qualified for the finals in 2027.
The remaining 42 teams will compete for seven places at the continental showpiece through three rounds of home-and-away qualifying ties that end in March 2027.
First round matches for CECAFA teams
Kenya Vs Tanzania
Djibouti Vs South Sudan
Ethiopia Vs Uganda
Rwanda Vs Sudan
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