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CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup: Eritrea fight back to hold Ethiopia 3-3

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It was raining goals on either side as hosts Ethiopia and Eritrea today settled for a 3-3 draw in the opening tie of the CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup.

The Pool B game watched by over 15,000 spectators at the Bahir Dar Stadium kicked-off in style with each of the teams looking for an early lead.

Eritrean defender Nahom Tedesse Mekonen had his 5th minute shot miss the target before the home side reorganized and scored after 10 minutes. William Solomo Tesfae found the Eritrean defenders flat footed and made no mistake slotting the ball past the Eritrean goalkeeper Kibrom Solomon Haile.

But the Eritrean team started to show more dominance with skipper Robel Teklemichael in command in the heart of the midfield.
After missing three chances Eritrea’s Ali Suleiman Ibrahim leveled matters when he beat Ethiopia’s goalkeeper Tsiyon Merid Jimma with a low shot in the 38 minutes to make it 1-1. But Ethiopia made it 2-1 only three minutes later with a penalty converted by skipper Abubeker Nasir Ahmed.

But before the Ethiopian team could settle down after taking the lead Ali Suleiman Ibrahim was quick to score his second of the day when he chipped advancing goalkeeper Jimma.

The two teams intensified their search for more goals after the interval, but with Ethiopia showing more dominance.
But after 56 minutes Eritrea’s defence was caught flat footed again giving room for Abubeker Nasir Ahmed to restore Ethiopia’s lead. Ahmed who showed a lot of hunger in-front of goal shot past the advancing goalkeeper to make it 3-2.

After 72 minutes Eritrea were also handed a penalty. Ali Suleiman Ibrahim made sure he netted his third goal of the day when he sent the Ethiopian goalkeeper the wrong side to make it 3-3.

Ethiopia’s head coach Wubetu Abate said his players had put up a good show in the opening match. “We missed several scoring chances, but we shall try to correct our mistakes ahead of our next game against Burundi,” said Abate after the game.

Mekonen Zewde Abraha, the Eritrean coach said he was happy with the attitude his players showed to fight back and pick a draw. “We shall continue working hard to make sure we perform better in our next game,” he added.

Pool B
P W D L GA GA AD Pts
Eritrea 1 0 1 0 3 3 0 1
Ethiopia 1 0 1 0 3 3 0 1
Burundi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CECAFA

Tanzania to face Bafana Bafana in friendly match

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The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has announced that the national senior side, Taifa Stars will face South Africa in an international friendly match on June 6th, 2025.

Wilfred Kidao, the TFF General Secretray told Cecafaonline on Tuesday that the match will be played away in South Africa during the FIFA window for International friendly matches.

He also disclosed that Tanzania’s team for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) will also play two matches away to Morocco’s CHAN team on June 7th and 10th respectively.

Meanwhile, Harambee Stars of Kenya will also face Chad in two international friendly matches to be played in Morocco June 7th and 10th respectively.

All the other teams in the CECAFA Zone Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi will also be engaged with International friendly matches.

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CECAFA to seek for more sponsors – Maduot

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The Acting President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Augustino Parek Maduot has said they will seek for sponsors inorder to develop Football further in the Zone.

Maduot said this on Monday evening during a press conference in Juba, South Sudan held after his arrival from Kenya where he officially took over as CECAFA’s Acting President on May 2nd, 2025.

“We are going to look for more sponsors because we need to keep developing Football more in the Zone,” said Maduot.

Maduot who is also the President of the South Sudan Football Association made it clear that he is ready to work with all Member Associations so that there are more positive strides made in the CECAFA Zone.

“The journey to success is not a one day activity, but continuous work. We shall keep working hard and also strengthening different aspects so that we get better as a Zone,” he added.

He said the season opening CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship to take place in Kenya next month will be fully sponsored.

Maduot who took over as CECAFA Acting President from new CAF Executive Member and President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Wallace Karia will serve until the next Elective General Assembly is held next year.

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Kenya unveil McCarthy as Harambee Stars head coach

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The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has today unveiled Benni McCarthy as the new national team head coach.

The unveiling of the new coach attended by several officials from FKF, government, sponsors and legends took place this afternoon at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi.

McCarthy who signed a two-year contract will work alongside fellow South Africans Vasilli Manausakis (Assistant coach), Moeneeb Josephs (goalkeepers coach) and Pilela Maposa (Performance Analyst) takes over from Francis Kimanzi who has been the Harambee Stars coach on an interim basis.

The new coach will go straight to work with his first games in charge being in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Gabon and Gambia this month.

“I am delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started to make Kenya one of the best Football teams,” said the former Bafana Bafana striker who was also joint top scorer at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Egypt’s Hossam Hassan.

He also made it clear that he wants to take all the experience he has garnered working in Europe and in South Africa and put it into practice to make the Kenyan team very competitive and strong. “With the right leaders, right coaches and right work ethics I don’t think that there is anything that can stop us from succeeding with the Kenyan national team,” added McCarthy.

Hussein Mohammed, the FKF President said although many coaches applied for the job, they picked on McCarthy because he has the exposure in Europe and Africa and has the fire in the belly, and the passion that Kenya needs.

“Given his exposure and of course with all the support from the stakeholders, McCarthy will take the Kenyan team far,” added the FKF President who was flanked by his Vice President McDonald Mariga.

McCarthy who won the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004 as a player has managed South African sides Cape Town City and AmaZulu FC. He served as an assistant coach at Sint Truiden in Belgium, and was first-team coach in-charge of strikers at Manchester United under Dutch manager Erik Ten Hag.

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CECAFA Opens bidding process for 2025 competitions

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The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has officially opened the bidding process for their competitions for the 2025 calendar.

The bidding process was officially opened by CECAFA on February 4th with the deadline of submission being February 21st, 2025.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director made it clear in the document that any Member Association that will be interested in hosting any tournament must meet all requirements in the bidding process.

“In order to be considered to host any of the competitions, kindly compete the attached bid documents clearly indicating which competition and submit to CECAFA by February 21st, 2025,” said part of the document.

The bid includes expression of interest, host bid questionnaire and the Budget document. CECAFA will announce the host Member Associations of the various competitions on March 3rd, 2025.

The seven tournaments lined up for the 2025 calendar include; CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship to take place in Kilifi County in Kenya, CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge Cup, CECAFA Senior men’s Challenge Cup, Dar Port Kagame Cup in Tanzania, CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers, CECAFA U-17 Boys Championship and CAF African Schools Football Championship.

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