NEWS
CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup: Kenya Emerging Stars storm semis
The Kenya Emerging Stars have defeated South Sudan 2-0 to book a place in the semi final stage at the on-going regional CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Coach Stanley Khayo Okumbi’s side made sure they kept a 100% winning run after they also picked a 3-0 win against Djibouti in their opening match.
The two teams failed to find the goals in the early half with Kenya’s Henry Atola coming close after 14 minutes, but his effort went wide. South Sudan’s defender Joseph Stephen Datha also had his long shot saved by Kenya’s goalkeeper Brian Bwire Okoth after 36 minutes.
After the interval South Sudan’s Sebit David Omot had his shot blocked after 46 minutes. Paul Reagan Otieno later put Kenya ahead with a well taken low shot after 51 minutes. It was Otieno’s third goal in the tournament after he netted two against Djibouti.
Otieno was later unlucky to limp of injured, but substitute Benson Ochieng Oluoch made it 2-0 with a tap in from close range after 79 minutes. The South Sudan team tried to push forward but failed to take their chances.South Sudan will play their last Pool C match against Djibouti on July 24th.
“I am happy we get a revenge over South Sudan who beat us in a play-off game in the U-20 tournament last year. It was also good the boys played tight and did not concede any goal,” said Kenya’s coach Okumbi after the game.
South Sudan’s coach Simon James Yor said they played against a good team and must now go back to the drawing board to prepare for the game against Djibouti
Pool C table standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Kenya 2 2 0 0 5 0 5 6
S. Sudan 1 0 0 1 0 0 -2 0
Djibouti 1 0 0 1 0 0 -3 0
Burundi Football
Makamba based Aigle Noir CS win Primus Burundi Premier League title
Aigle Noir Club Sportif are champions of the 2025/2026 Primus Burundi Premier League.
The Makamba based team was crowned last Saturday after their last match that saw them defeat Garage Express FC 1-0.
After 30 matches played Aigle Noir CS finished with 71 points, while Musongati FC came second with 59 points, Flambeau du Centre finished in third place with 56 points.
Aigle Noir CS player Abdi Ineza finished as top scorer with 16 goals.
The three relegated teams include; BG Green Farmers FC, Garage Express FC and Burundi Sport Dynamik.
Aigle Noir CS who are also in the final of the Burundi Cup will now represent Burundi in the 2026/2027 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
NEWS
El Merriekh SC Bentiu win a double in South Sudan
El Merriekh SC Bentiu are the undisputed giants of South Sudan Football in the 2026 season.
A week a goal El Merriekh SC Bentiu emerged champions of the South Sudan Premier League, and today they defeated Al Ghazala 2-1 to lift the South Sudan Cup.
Saleh Ishimwe scored after 32 minutes to give El Merriekh SC Bentiu a 1-0 first half lead at the Juba National Stadium.
After recess Gaetan Masha got his name on the score sheet to make it 2-0 for El merriekh SC Bentiu after 50 minutes. Ayub Khoak pulled a goal back for the Al Ghazala SC team.
Coach Ibrahim Hussein thanked his team for the hard work through out the season. “It has been hard work which has seen the team perform well in the 2026 season,” said the head coach.
The El Merriekh SC Bentiu team received medals and the trophy in a ceremony graced by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Atong Kuol Manyang.
Michael Amin Francis, President of the South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) and El Merriekh SC Bentiu Chairman Malual Tap Diu also attended the awarding ceremony.
El Merriekh SC Bentiu will now select to either feature in the CAF Champions League or the CAF Confederation Cup in the 2026/2027 season.
AFCON 2027 qualifiers
TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualification road map out
The qualification road map for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA (AFCON) 2027 has been released with the first group matches to be played September 21st, 2026.
Last week the FIFA Council held in Canada approved June 19th to July 17th, 2027 as the dates for the AFCON 2027 to be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
After the completion of the preliminary round that saw CECAFA teams; Somalia, Eritrea, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan make it to the group stage, the draw will now be conducted on May 19th.
A total of 48 teams, including the three Co-hosts, will participate in the qualifiers which will be played across the three FIFA International Windows. The teams will be drawn in 12 groups of four teams, and the top two in each group will qualify for AFCON 2027.
The Matchdays 1 and 2 matches will be played September 21st to October 6th, Matchdays 3 and 4 between November 9-17th, and the Matchdays 5 and 6 between March 22-30, 2027
Teams from the CECAFA Zone that will play in the group qualifiers include; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia.
Muungano Cup
Simba Sports Club lift Muungano Cup 2026
Simba SC have defeated arch-rivals Young Africans SC 1-0 in the final of the Muungano Cup 2026.
Cheered on by President of Tanzania, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the two sides came all out at the New Amaan Complex on Wednesday night.
The 90 minutes action packed final did not witness goals. It was in the added 30 minutes when Zambian International Clatous Chama was brought down and Simba SC was awarded a penalty.
Selemani Mwalimu made no mistake from the spot sending Young Africans SC goalkeeper Djigui Diarra the wrong side.
It was all celebration after the final whistle. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar awarded the Cup to the champions who also bagged a cash prize of 150,000,000 Tanzania shilling.
To reach the final Simba SC ejected Mlandege FC 3-0, while the 2025 winners Young Africans SC defeated Azam FC 2-1.
The Muungano Cup was played between teams from Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Union.
-
CAF Champions League6 months agoYoung Africans draw Al Ahly for CAF Champions League group stage
-
CAF African Nations Championship2 years agoAfrican Nations Championship 2025 dates announced
-
CAF African Nations Championship9 months agoCHAN 2024: Kenya lead group, to face Madagascar in quarter final stage
-
CECAFA11 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
FIFA WOrld Cup Qualifiers8 months agoUganda win, Tanzania pick late draw in FIFA World Cup qualifiers
-
FIFA U-17 World Cup 20256 months agoUganda ejects Senegal to storm FIFA U-17 World Cup round of 16
-
NEWS5 years agoYoung Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
-
Top stories6 years agoWe need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino
