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.
The head coach of South Sudan, Nicolas Dupuis has said his team is very determined to qualify for the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 qualifiers.
Dupuis guided the Bright Star of South Sudan past Kenya in the first round of the qualifiers on a 3-1 goal aggregate to qualify for the second round.
“We are very determined and will prepare for the next round of the qualifiers because I believe we have a good team. Our major target is to qualify for CHAN 2025 because this will mean a lot for us and South Sudan as a country,” said Dupuis.
After winning the first leg 2-0, South Sudan held on to a 1-1 draw against Kenya in the return leg played at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in Kampala.
Austine Odhiambo Otieno gave Kenya the lead after 10 minutes, but Ebo Malish Ezibon Wajo leveled matters for South Sudan after 43 minutes. The two teams failed to find more goals in the second half. The draw saw South Sudan qualify on a 3-1 goal aggregate.
Kenya opted to play their match in Uganda because they do not have have a Stadium approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) to host International matches.
Kenya has already secured qualification since they will be one of the hosts of the CHAN 2025 tournament together with Uganda and Tanzania when the tournament takes place in February.
South Sudan will not face Rwanda in the final phase of the qualifiers in December this year, while Burundi take on Uganda, and Ethiopia battle Sudan.
Rwanda ejected Djibouti 3-1 on aggregate in the first round, while Sudan saw-off Tanzania in penalties after a 1-1 draw after two rounds. Burundi and Ethiopia walked over Somalia and Eritrea respectively.
The CHAN tournament is played between only players featuring in the local League in each of the respective CAF Member countries.
The Amavubi of Rwanda are through to the last phase of the TotalEnergies Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 qualifiers.
After losing the first leg 1-0 to Djibouti few days ago, Rwanda returned a changed side to defeat the same side 3-1 in the return leg played at the Amahoro Stadium on Thursday in Kigali.
Cheered on by the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, the Amavubi took an early lead through Olivier Dushimimana after 10 minutes.
The striker made no mistake when he capitalized on Kevin Muhire’s cross to place the ball past Djibouti’s goalkeeper Sulait Luyima. Mahad Abdi had his shot blocked later after 19 minutes by Rwanda’s goalkeeper.
Dushimimana was at it again netting his second goal of the day after 24 minutes. After recess, the Djibouti team tried to settle down and close gaps on the pitch. But Arsene Tuyisenge made it 3-0 for the hosts at the stroke of full time.
Frank Spittler, the Rwanda coach said his players had responded well after losing the first leg. “I am happy about the way the players expressed themselves today and we need to keep working hard because there is another stage of the qualifiers,” added Spittler.
Rwanda who qualified on a 3-1 goal aggregate will now wait to gave the winner between Kenya and South Sudan in the final phase of the qualifiers.
On Sunday Tanzania will host Sudan in Dar es Salaam, while Kenya face South Sudan in Nairobi. Sudan stopped Tanzania 1-0, while South Sudan brushed aside Kenya 2-0 in the first leg.
The CECAFA Zone will be represented by four teams when the CHAN 2025 tournament takes place in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in February 2025.
Six teams from the CECAFA Zone were on Sunday engaged in the first preliminary round of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 qualifiers.
Djibouti who hosted the first leg at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali shocked Rwanda 1-0 with the lone goal scored by Gabriel Ddadzie.
The Djibouti team hosted the first leg away from home because they do not have a Stadium approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.
In Juba, hosts South Sudan defeated Kenya 2-0 in a match played at the Juba National Stadium. After a goalless first half, the South Sudan intensified their search for goals and scored through Ezibon Malish five minutes after restart, and Yohanna Paulino after 68 minutes.
“We are very happy to win the first leg. Now we must prepare better for the return leg to be played in Kampala, “ said South Sudan’s Coach Nicolas Dupius.
Sudan who hosted Tanzania at the National Stadium in Nouakchott, Mauritania also picked a slim 1-0 victory. Andel Raman scored the goal after 23 minutes. Eritrea and Ethiopia are also set to clash on October 31st in a match to be played in Juba, South Sudan.
The return legs will be played between November 1-3, 2024, while second round matches take centre stage between December 20-22 for the first round, and the return legs December 25-27, 2024.
The CHAN 2025 will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania between February 1-28th, 2025.
The President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Wallace Karia has made it clear that Dr. Patrice Motsepe deserves to be re-elected as President of the African Football body, CAF.
Karia, also President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) says that he was one of the Presidents who convinced Motsepe to seek-re-election.
“We have convinced Motsepe to stand again for re-election because he deserves it basing on his contribution towards Football development in Africa and CECAFA,” says Karia.
On Friday CAF confirmed that Dr. Motsepe will contest the CAF Presidential Elections next year. “Following requests from numerous CAF Member Association Presidents, Zonal Union Presidents and key stakeholders, the CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe has finally agreed to stand as a candidate at the CAF Presidential Elections scheduled for March 2025,” said the communication.
Dr. Motsepe assumed the CAF presidency on 12th, March 2021, succeeding Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar. He has been widely acknowledged for his positive influence on CAF’s governance and reputation.
His administration has emphasised transparency, accountability, and robust governance reforms. During his time as President of CAF, the CAF Women’s Champions League has also been introduced, and there have also been increases in cash prizes across all tournaments.
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