NEWS
CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup: What the coaches say after the group stage
The CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup group stage climaxed on July 24th with nine matches played in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The coaches had this to say.
Kim Poulsen (Head Coach, Tanzania)
We are very happy to qualify for the semi finals because our preparations were close to zero since the Tanzania Premier League has just ended. We were also in a very tough group and we surely battled strongly to make it to the next stage.
I think Uganda also deserved to be in the semi final because they play well. We shall not underrate our opponents South Sudan who we face in the semi final. We shall have to approach the semi final match very differently.
Morley Byekwaso (Head Coach, Uganda)
I thank the boys because for the fighting spirit they have showed in the two matches. We created several scoring chances in this tournament, but did not use them well. But it’s a good experience for my young team as we still have two more classification matches.
We need to prepare our teams for the future and this tournament is good to try out players.
Julien Mette (Head Coach, Djibouti)
Ofcourse it is not good to see us failing to win or even score a single goal. But I am happy that the young players have got more exposure from the two matches we played against Kenya and South Sudan. It is from such matches that players get more experience and can be able to improve.
Simon James Yor (Head Coach, South Sudan)
Qualifying for the semi final is very good for my players because it means they have more competitive matches to play and this will help them to develop and become better players. We know the Tanzanian team that we face in the semi final is strong, but we shall prepare well for them.
Wubetu Abate Wubetu (head Coach, Ethiopia)
I am not happy with the way my players played the two group games where we picked draws. We need to improve as a team to take our chances and always shoot at goal instead of holding onto the ball and lack that final finish. But the tournament is good for testing and improving our young players.
Jimmy Ndayizeye (Head Coach, Burundi)
I am impressed with the concentration of my players and we hope they can keep focused for the game against Kenya. We have brought some of our young players from Europe to be tested in this tournament and am happy with the progress. Facing Kenya will not be easy because they have showed they are strong by winning their two games in the pool.
Jean Claude Loboko (Head Coach, DR Congo)
Although we failed to qualify for the semi finals, we are happy that the young players are getting the much needed experience from this tournament. Yes we have been good at creating many scoring chances, but finishing remains our problem.
Stanley Khayo Okumbi (Head Coach, Kenya)
Five goals and two wins makes us happy as the technical bench. But we need to tune out minds and prepare well ahead of the tough match against Burundi. Although we have won all our two games in the group stage, I believe we still have to improve on some aspects.
Yohannes Tesfay Giday (Assistant Coach, Eritrea)
Although we failed to win a single game in the group stage, this has been a good outing for the players. We shall try to field players who have not got a lot of playing time in the remaining two classification matches.
Jamus Sports Club are the champions of the inaugural 2024/2025 South Sudan Premier League
Making their first appearance in the South Sudan Premier League, Jamus SC finished unbeaten after stopping Al Hilal FC Wau 5-1 in their last match played on Saturday.
Christian Theodore gave Jamus SC the lead after 10 minutes at the Juba National Stadium. George Rodriguez added two more goals for Jamus SC before the interval.
Mario Taban made it 4-0 for Jamus SC two minutes into the second half, and Rodriguez completed his hat-trick. Fadul Osman pulled a goal back for Al Hilal FC Wau.
Jamus SC finished the season with 68 points from 26 matches played. The team won 21 matches and recorded five draws. Kator FC finished third with 62 points, while former champions El Merriekh SC Bentiu collected 58 points to finish in third place.
Jamus SC have been in very good form this season which saw them also win the Super Cup and Zain South Sudan Cup.
The team will now represent South Sudan in the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup.
The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has rescheduled the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship.
The inaugural Championship which was slated to take place June 6-11th will now take centre stage between July 7-12th in Mombasa, Kenya.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause to your preparations and plans. Our intention remains to deliver a high-quality competition, and this adjustment will allow us to meet all necessary requirements for a smooth and memorable event,” said CECAFA’s Executive Director, Auka Gecheo.
The teams that have already confirmed participation include; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar, Burundi and guest sides Malawi and Seychelles.
APR Football Club have retained the Rwanda Premier League title.
The army side were crowned champions on Wednesday after defeating Musanze FC 3-1 in their last match played at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. Bosco Rubonneka netted a hat-trick for APR FC.
APR FC who also lifted the Peace Cup finished the season with 67 points from 30 matches played, while their arch-rivals Rayon Sport came second with 63 points.
APR FC will now represent Rwanda in the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup.
Last year APR FC were runners-up in the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup after losing to guest side Red Arrows FC from Zambia in the final.
Meanhwhile, the Somali Premier League was also decided last week with Mogadishu City Club FC emerging champions with 57 points, while Heegan FC finished second with 51 points.
The other Premier Leagues in the CECAFA region that have already been concluded include; Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti.
The President of the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) attended a historic peace match at the Mogadishu Stadium on Tuesday.
In a sign of solidarity and support, President Augustino Parek Maduot watched the match featuring some African Legends and a selected team. Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre also garced the ceremony.
The African football legends who featured in the match watched by a big crowd included Samuel Eto’o (now Cameroon Football President and CAF Executive Member), Jay-Jay Okocha, and Emmanuel Adebayor. President of the Djibouti Football Federation and FIFA Council Member Suleiman Waberi also featured in the match.
“I am happy to be in Somalia because we must always support our members in the Zone. It is always good to be united as a Football family,” said the CECAFA President Maduot.
Somalia’s Prime Minister said the event marks a significant milestone in their efforts to restore the image and strength of Somali sports. “The presence of international stars and sports leaders shows that global confidence in Somalia is returning,” added Barre.
The match also served as an opportunity to assess Somalia’s readiness to host international fixtures in standard stadiums, amid renewed efforts to upgrade sports infrastructure across the country.
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