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 Uganda Cubs are the winners of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
Coach Kingston Laryea’s team stopped Somalia 6-5 in penalty shoot-outs of the final played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Monday.
The two teams created several scoring opportunities, but it was Uganda’s goalkeeper David Ssegirinya who stood firm making two crucial saves in the last five minutes of the match.
During the penalty shoot-outs Ssegirinya again stopped three penalties to ensure Uganda walked away with the trophy. and stopped
It is now Uganda’s third time to win the title in the last six months after also winning in 2020 and 2024.
“I am very happy with the players because we worked so hard topped the group, beat Ethiopia in the semis and now lifted the trophy after winning in the penalties,” said a happy Uganda Cubs coach Laryea.
Henry Muhoozi, Uganda’s captain said it was a very happy moment for him captaining the national team to victory and qualifying for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. “We are very proud of ourselves and than everyone for the support,” added Muhoozi.
Dadir Amin Ali, the Somalia head coach thanked his players for working hard to qualify for the CAF U-17 AFCON and reaching the final. “As a coach I am very proud of my boys because it has been real hard work,” added Ali.
The qualifiers attracted nine teams after Djibouti pulled out few days to kick-off.
Uganda Cubs captain Henry Muhoozi has been voted the Best Player at the just concluded TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
Muhoozi who featured in all four matches putting up a good show team guided the Cubs to win the Zonal qualifiers at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Monday.
CECAFA Vice President, and President of the Somali Football Federation (SFF), Ali Abdi Muhamad presented the Award to Muhoozi during the Awards ceremony at the Kigali Pele Stadium.
“I am very delighted winning this Award and it will always mean a lot to me me and motivate me to keep working hard,” said Muhoozi.
Uganda’s duo of David Ssegirinya and Arnold Kayemba (four goals) also scooped the Best goalkeeper and top scorer’s Awards respectively.
Ethiopia who lost 2-1 to hosts Rwanda in the third place play-off picked the Fair Play Award, Rwanda the bronze medals, while Somalia collected silver and Uganda the gold.
The other officials who graced the Awards ceremony included; Richard Mugisha, the Second Vice President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) In-charge of Technical Matters, Jean Sseninde, the CECAFA Interim Executive Director, Ronnie Kalakire, the 1st Secretary at the Uganda High Commission and the Uganda U-17 team Head of Delegation, Mansoor Kabuye.
Rwanda are the third team from the CECAFA Zone to qualify for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The hosts of the Zonal qualifiers defeated Ethiopia 2-1 in the play-off match for third place on Monday at the Kigali Pele Stadium.
Rwanda took an early 5th minute lead with a well taken strike by Heylen Jayden Shema from outside the box.
But after eight minutes Abdisa Gutema Dachesa almost leveled matters, but Rwanda’s goalkeeper Emmanuel Nsengiyumva did well to stop the shot.
After 16 minutes Isaac Ndizeye nodded in Rwanda’s second goal finishing off beautifully from a well taken corner.
The Ethiopian did not give up and continued to attack and creating scoring opportunities. With three minutes to half time Akrem Abduselam Jemal pulled a goal back for Ethiopia from close range.
The two teams continued to create several scoring opportunities after the interval, but to no avail.
Rwanda handled by former Internatinal Jimmy Mulisa now join Uganda and Somalia as the three representatives from the CECAFA Zone who will play at the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
It will be Rwanda’s second qualification for the CAF U-17 AFCON after their first appearance in 2011 when they hosted and lost 2-1 to Burkina Faso in the final.
Uganda has qualified for the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
After drawing 4-4 in the first leg of the second round of the qualifiers against Burundi, the Uganda Sand Cranes won the return leg 9-6 in a match played at the Bunjako Beach on Sunday.
Joshua Letti Lubwama, Baker Lukooya and Godfrey Edweru all netted two goals each for the Uganda Sand Cranes. Ambrose Kigozi, Brian Nkuubi, and Paul Lule also had their names on the score sheet for the hosts.
La vie Nininahazwe and Mossi Nshimirimana each netted a hat-trick for the Burundi team.
“We are very happy to qualify for the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations. We have worked really hard to be able to qualify,” said Uganda’s Baker Lukooya.
Uganda will be the only team from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone at the competition after Tanzania were eliminated by Mozambique.
Senegal will host the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations that will feature eight teams from November 7-15.
The competition will also double as the African qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, with qualification granted to both finalists.
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