Uganda and Ethiopia are the winners of the boys and girls’ categories at the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers.

The two teams qualified to represent the CECAFA Zone at the continental Championship next year after the Zonal qualifiers ended on Tuesday at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende in Uganda.

In the Boy’s category Uganda battled to a goalless draw against Ethiopia, but won 3-2 in penalty shootouts. Tanzania defeated Burundi 2-0 in the play-off to finish third and win bronze.

Nabil Kajumba, Uganda’s boy’s top scorer told Cecafaonline that he was very happy to have played a key role to help the team win and qualify to play at continental level next year. “We worked hard and we have finally lifted the trophy,” said a happy Kajumba.

In the Girl’s category Tanzania and Ethiopia battled to a goalless draw. The Tanzanian side won 5-4 in penalty kicks, while Uganda also defeated Burundi 2-0 to win bronze.

The winning teams in each category will also receive US$100,000, the runners-up US$75,000 and the third placed US$50,000. The cash prizes are earmarked for development projects back in the respective schools.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) 1^st Vice President, Justus Mugisha said they are delighted to have hosted a successful tournament. “We are glad to have hosted a second Schools tournament in a row,” added Mugisha.

The Zonal qualifiers featured Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Tanzania’s Hajra Mawanja and Nabil Kajumba (Uganda) scooped the top scorers’ Awards at the concluded CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers on Tuesday in Uganda.

Mawanja who helped Tanzania win the Girl’s title finished top with six goals, while Kajumba netted seven goals and also guided Uganda to win the top prize.

“It is a very good feeling finishing as top scorer in the Championship and helping my team win gold,” said a happy Mawanja after the match at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

While the Fair-play Award was won by Burundi and Uganda for the Boys and Girls categories respectively, Ramadhan Ngendabanyikwa (Burundi) and Lukia Seleman (Tanzania) were also voted best goalkeepers for the boys and girls repespectively.

Uganda’s duo of Henry Muhoozi and Lydia Namaseruka were voted best players of the Championship for the boys and girls respectively.

The Awards were presented by the CECAFA Acting President Alexandre Muyenge, Vice President Paulous Weldehaimanot Andemariam and CECAFA Excom member Petra Doris Atieno. The other members who graced the Awards ceremony included the 1^st Vice President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Justus Mugisha, the FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, and the TotalEnergies Strategy and New Energies Manager, Carol Katungi.

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Awards

Fair-play Awards

Boys: Burundi

Girls: Uganda

Best goalkeeper

Boys: Ramadhan Ngendabanyikwa (Burundi)

Girls: Lukia Seleman (Tanzania)

Top scorer

Boys: Nabil Kajumba (Uganda)

Hajra Mawanja (Tanzania)

Best Player

Henry Muhoozi (Uganda)

Lydia Namaseruka (Uganda)

Bronze medal winners

Boys: Tanzania

Girls: Uganda

Silver medal winners

Boys: Ethiopia

Girls: Ethiopia

Gold medal winners

Boys: Uganda

Girls: Tanzania

Two teams from Ethiopia have reached the finals of the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers.

After a goalless encounter Ethiopia stopped Burundi 14-13 in penalty shootouts to advance to the final of the Boys category in a match played at the St.Marys Stadium, Kitende in Uganda.

The Ethiopian team that last participated in the Zonal qualifiers in 2022 in Tanzania registered wins in all their three matches played in the group stage.

In the second boy’s semi final Uganda defeated the 2024 Zonal champions and African champions Tanzania 2-0. The tournament’s leading scorer Nabil Kajumba and Owen Mukisa netted the goals for Uganda.

“We are very happy to reach the final again after we lost in the final last year. We shall remain focused ahead of the final against Ethiopia,” said Uganda’s coach Ronald Mulajje.

Ethiopia also advanced to the final in the girl’s category after they silenced Uganda 3-2 in penalty shootouts after the match had ended goalless.

Tanzania who won the Zonal title in the inaugural Zonal qualifiers in 2022 ejected Burundi at the semi final stage 2-0. Hajra Selemani Mawanja netted a brace for Tanzania.

The finals and play-off for third place will be played on Tuesday. A cash prize of US$100,000 will go to the winners, US$75,000 to the silver medalists and US$50,000 for the bronze medal winners. The cash prizes are all used towards a project back at the schools.

The Uganda Cranes head coach Paul put has named his squad ahead of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

He has also included 17-year old forward James Bogere as part of the squad.

Bogere was one of Uganda’s star players at the recent FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar where they bowed out in the knock out stage of 16.

Uganda are placed in Group C alongside Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania for the AFCON 2025 which runs December 21st to January 18th in Morocco.

Put said before the team departed for Casablanca on Sunday that he is confident his team will be able to do well because they have been together for some time now.

“Our major target will be to qualify from the group and advance to the knock out stage,” added Put.

He explained that the 11 days of camping in Morocco and the two friendly matches that the team will play will help them prepare well and also acclimatize to the environment in Morocco.

Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan are the teams that qualified for AFCON 2025 from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Salim Omar Magoola (Richards Bay FC, South Africa), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns FC, South Africa), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Charles Lukwago ( KCCA FC, Uganda).

Defenders: Toby Sibbick (Burton Albion FC, England), Elio Caprodossi (FC Universitatea Cluj, Romania), Jordan Obita (Hibernian FC, Scotland), Rogers Torach (Vipers SC, Uganda), Abdu Azizi Kayondo (FC Slovan Liberec, Czech Republic), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Žižkov, Czech Republic), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod, Israel), David Owori (SC Villa, Uganda), Hilary Mukundane (Vipers SC, Uganda).

Midfielders: Kenneth Semakula (Al-Adalah FC, Saudi Arabia), Khalid Aucho (Singida Black Stars SC, Tanzania), Ronald Ssekiganda (APR FC, Rwanda), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Oakland Roots SC, USA), Alhassan Baba (FCSB, Romania).

Forwards: Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Melvyn Lorenzen (Muangthong United FC, Thailand), Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Denis Omedi (APR FC, Rwanda), Rogers Mato ( FK Vardar, North Macedonia), Reagan Mpande (SC Villa, Uganda), Jude Ssemugabi (Jamus FC, South Sudan), Uchechukwu Ikpeazu (St. Johnstone FC, Scotland), Steven Mukwala (Simba SC, Tanzania), James Bogere (Masaka Sunshine FC, Uganda), Ivan Ahimbisibwe (KCCA FC, Uganda), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza ( KCCA FC (Uganda).