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 semi-final stage of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 is set for August 4th at the Kigali Pele Stadium, Rwanda.
After the final group stages climaxed on Saturday, Rayon Sport FC and Al Hilal SC have joined Gor Mahia and Jamus SC at the knock-out stage.
Rayon Sport FC, who will represent Rwanda in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup defeated Al Hilal SC (Sudan) 1-0 in the last group tie to come out top.
The Blues netted through Atisso Kodjo after 17 minutes to ensure they finished the group stage with maximum nine points.
Rayon Sport FC will now face surprise package Jamus SC from South Sudan in the second semi-final clash.
Christian Francis Haringingo, the Rayon Sport FC head coach said he was happy to get to the next stage after winning all three matches. “This is part of pre-season and we are now ready to face any team in the semi-final stage,” says Haringingo.
The Sudan side who finished as the best second placed team will now face Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) in the fiurst semi-final tie in what promises to be a thriller.
Another Kenyan side Tusker FC also secured the only win in the competition after seeing off KVZ FC 2-0 in a Group C match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium.
Ian Simiyu and Victor Mbaoma netted the goals for the Kenya Premier League side.
South Sudan’s Jamus SC are the second team to book a place in the semi-final at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.
Jamus SC struggled from a goal down to defeat Mogadishu City Club 2-1 in a tough Group B match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Friday.
An own goal by Thomas Eta gave Somalia’s Mogadishu City Club the lead after 40 minutes to silence the Jamus SC fans in the Stadium.
Adfter recess Jamus SC pushed forward to scored two goals through substitute Mario Taban Cherelino and Laurent Ramazani. The win pushed Jamus SC to top of the table with 7 points.
Saber Ben Jabria, the Jamus SC coach said he was proud of his team that picked two victories and drew once in Group B. “We now start focusing on the semi-final,” added the Tunisian.
In the second Group B tie Simba SC humbled 2025 winners Singida Black Stars FC in an all Tanzanian affair clash held at the Amahoro Stadium.
Malian International Ibrahim Doumbia gave Simba SC the lead after 27 minutes, but Mathew Tegisis leveled matters for Singida Black Stars after 41 minutes.
Elie Mpanzu netted Simba SC’s winning goal after 66 minutes.
After Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) and Jamus SC have booked places in the semi-finals, focus will turn to the two Group C matches on Saturday with Al Hilal SC (Sudan) facing Rayon Sport FC (Rwanda), while Tusker FC (Kenya) battle Zanzibar’s KVZ FC.
Kenya Premier League reigning champions Gor Mahia FC have qualified for the semi-final stage at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.
The 10-man Gor Mahia FC side edged Garde Republicaine FC (Djibouti) 1-0 in their last Group A match played on Thursday to seal their top spot after Vipers SC suffered a 2-1 defeat to APR FC.
Paul Okoth netted the lone goal for Gor Mahia FC after only 4 minutes. The Kenya side continued to dominate play at the Kigali Pele Stadium, but Garde Republicaine defended in numbers.
Gor Mahia FC’s Alpha Chris Onyango was later sent-off after 69 minutes. Charles Kwablan Akonnor, the Gor Mahia coach praised his players for getting the job done and qualifying for the knock out stage of the tournament.
“We have managed two wins against APR FC and Garde Republicaine and lost to Vipers SC. But besides this being a good pre-season for us, we have also achieved one o the targets which is getting to the later stages of the tournament,” added Akonnor.
While Gor Mahia FC who are chasing a fourth CECAFA Kagame Cup title finished top of Group A with 6 points and a goal difference of five goals, Vipers SC who have the same number of points and a goal difference of three goals will have to wait after all other matches are complete to determine if they make it to the semi-finals.
APR FC netted through Mamadou Traore and Djibril Quattara, while Gusto Mulongo scored for the Ugandan League giants Vipers SC.
Congolese defender Kevin Dasylva Bady was sent off later in the second half for Vipers SC. APR FC bowed out of the tournament despite finishing with 6 points and a lower goal diffrence.
Action continues on Friday with 2025 winners Singida Black Stars FC facing Simba SC in an all Tanzanian affair at the Amahoro Stadium, while Group B table leaders Jamus SC take on Mogadishu City Club at the Kigali Pele Stadium.
Gor Mahia FC will now wait to face the top team in Group C, while the leading team in Group B will face the Best second placed team.
The winners will walk away with US$30,000, the runners-up US20,000, while the third placed team collects US$10,000.
Sudan’s Al Hilal SC and Rayon Sport FC have maintained a 100% winning run in Group C at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup.
Al Hilal who stopped Tusker FC 2-0 in their opening match, registered a 4-0 victory against Zanzibar champions KVZ FC in a match played at the Pele Kigali Stadium on Wednesday.
Skipper Abdelhman Mohamed Yousif gave Al Hilal the lead after only two minutes when he shot past KVZ FC goalkeeper Bashir Muslim Darwesh.
KVZ FC tried to play a highly defensive approach, but failed to contain the Sudan team. Ahmed M’bareck made it 2-0 for Al Hilal SC netting after 29 minutes.
Babe Diarra also had a shot for KVZ that missed by inches after 40 minutes. After recess substitutes Samura Ansumana and Akire Temple Taiwo also got their names on the score sheet.
Guy Bukasa Misakabu, the Al Hilal SC head coach said that he is impressed with the way his team attacked in numbers and managed to score four goals against a highly defensive side. “This is the pre-season and we are trying out several things,” added the Al Hilal coach.
In the second match home side Rayon Sport FC edged Tusker FC (Kenya) 1-0 with Atisso Kodjo scoring the lone goal. The group will be decided on August 1st when Rayon Sport FC face table leaders Al Hilal SC.
On Thursday two Group A matches will be played. Table leaders Vipers SC (Uganda) will face APR FC (Rwanda), while Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) take on Garde Republicaine FC.
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