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.
Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC have topped Group A in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
Coach Fadlu Davids team silenced Algeria’s CS Constantine 2-0 in their last Group A match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
Simba SC who qualified for the quarter final stage a week ago after picking a crucial 1-1 away draw against Bravos do Maquis
Scored in the second half through Kibu Denis and Leonel Ateba.
The win sent Simba SC top of Group A with 13 points, while CS Constantine finished second with 12 points.
“It was not a very easy match since we played without fans. But I thank my players for pushing hard and finding the goals in the second half,” said Simba SC coach Fadlu Davids after the match.
Simba SC together with CS Constantine join other teams that have qualified for the quarter-finals; RS Berkane (Morocco), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), USM Alger (Alger) and Zamalek (Egypt).
Last season Simba SC together with Young Africans SC reached the quarter-final stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Tanzania Premier League side Young Africans SC have failed to book a place in the quarter-final stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Young Africans SC needed nothing less than victory against MC Alger in the last group match played in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, but settled for a goalless draw.
Coach Sead Ramovic’s team revived their hopes last weekend after defeating table leaders Al Hilal (Sudan) 1-0 in an away match played in Mauritania. The draw against the Algerian side meant that they finished third in the group with 8 points.
In the second Group A match played in DR Congo, bottom placed TP Mazembe shocked Al Hilal 4-0. Jean Diouf and Ibrahim Keita gave TP Mazembe a 2-0 half time lead.
After the interval Merceil Ngimbi Vumbi increased the lead, and Suleman Shaibu converted a late penalty to make it 4-0.
Al Hilal finished top with 10 points, while MC Alger came second with 9 points and TP Mazembe bottom with 5 points.
The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 was finally held on Wednesday night at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will for the first time co-host the Championship in August this year in what promises to be a great experience.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe (CAF President)
In a recorded message, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe said, “The renovations of stadiums, training fields, infrastructure, hotels, and hospitals in the three countries reflect significant progress and motivation, evident during my tour.”
Salim Mvurya (Kenya Cabinent Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports)
“Hosting CHAN is great inspiration to our country and East Africa. I want to thank the three Presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for their commitment and agreeing to host CHAN 2024.”
“We welcome the decision by Dr. Motsepe and the CAF Executive Committee to push CHAN to August because it gives us time and opportunity as the three countries to bring out our best.”
Peter Ogwang (Uganda State Minister for Sports)
“We want to take this opportunity to thank CAF and the Executive Committee for accepting us to host the CHAN tournament. We welcome the whole of Africa and the entire world to East Africa.”
“I also request that CAF allow us to name the tournament PAMOJA African Nations Championship.”
Palamagamba John Aidan Mwaluko (Tanzania Minister of Information Culture, Arts and Sports)
“I bring you greetings from the President of the Republic of Tanzania Suluhu Hassan. This ceremony today signifies that East Africa is ready to host CHAN 2024.”
“I also request that the tournament is called the PAMOJA CHAN since the word means coming together.”
Wallace Karia (CECAFA, Tanzania Football President)
“We thank the three Presidents of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda for being able to bring CHAN 2024 to East Africa. We also thank the CAf President Dr. Patrice Motspe and his Executive for picking the PAMOJA bid.”
“Pushing the tournament to August is most welcome as the three countries will be able to prepare are even better.”
Hassim Moses Magogo (Federation of Uganda Football Association President)
“We are glad this dream of hosting CHAN is coming true since the three of us met in a restaurant some years back and decided we wanted to host CHAN. We believe in a successful CHAN and the extra six months given to have the tournament in August will help us present the best CHAN.”
Mohamed Hashim (Football Kenya Federation President)
“We are very delighted that finally the draw is taking place today and as Kenya and our other co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania we are ready to have a good CHAN event.”
“We thank the governments and CAF for all the effort they continue to put in that will make this tournament a success.”
Auka John Gecheo (CECAFA Executive Director)
“We are confident as a Zone that this CHAN tournament to be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will be a huge success. I believe pushing the tournament to August will give the three countries more time to tie-up the loose ends and host a memorable Championship.”
CAF African Nations Championship
CHAN 2024: Kenya placed in Group of death alongside DR Congo, Morocco
The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 has finally been conducted in Nairobi, Kenya.
The tournament exclusively for players featuring in their domestic Leagues was rescheduled from February to August 2025.
In the draw conducted at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre in Nairobi today night, Kenya was placed in Group A alongside two time winners Morocco, DR Congo, Angola and Zambia. “This is a true group of death. But the six months will be good for Kenya to prepare well,” said former Harambee Stars coach Jacob Mulee who attended the draw.
The draw supervised by the CAF Director of Tournament and Events, Samson Adamu and assisted by legends Hassan Wasswa (Uganda), Mrisho Ngassa (Tanzania) and Kenya’s McDonald Mariga was also graced by the Sports Ministers from the three countries.
Mariga, a former Kenyan International who also won the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan and now the Vice President of Football Kenya Federation also made it clear that the Kenya has been placed in a Group of Death.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will for the first time host the CHAN tournament in East Africa. Tanzania placed in Group B will play alongside Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic. “This is a very good group for Tanzania, but there is not team that can be underrated,” Ngassa, the former Taifa Stars instrumental player told Cecafa online after the draw ceremony.
Uganda, who will be featuring in their eighth CHAN tournament have been placed in Group C together with Niger, Guinea and two other teams that are yet to complete the qualifiers. The defending champions Senegal has been placed in Group D together with Congo Brazzaville, Sudan and Nigeria.
Several government representatives of the three countries, their Member Association Football Presidents also attended the ceremony.
Seidou Mbombo Njoya, the fourth CAF Vice President and Souleiman Hassan Waberi, President of the Djibouti Football body and third CAF Vice President also attended the ceremony.
Group A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia
Group B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic
Group C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, Q2, Q1
Group C: Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Sudan, Nigeria
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