NEWS
Coaches applaud CAF for introducing Women’s Champions League

The CECAFA zonal qualifier for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League enters the semi final stage today in Nairobi, Kenya.
Coaches of the eight teams that qualified to represent their respective countries have come out to praise the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) under President Patrice Motsepe for introducing this tournament, and CECAFA for organizing the qualifier.
Fred Musiime, the Lady Doves coach says he is very happy that finally CAF has though of having this tournament. “This is a very good platform for the teams in Africa to keep improving by playing in such a tournament,” says Musiime.
The PVP FC (Burundi) coach Jumaine Niyonkuru says having this competition is going to bring more competition in most of the Women Leagues in Africa. “This is a very good step by CAF to introduce this tournament because it will be another place where scouts can also scout out players,” added Niyonkuru.
Although his team did not manage to pick a single win in the tournament, coach of Djibouti’s FAD FC, Darar Abdillahi Darar thinks with many more tournaments for women footballers in Africa like the Champions League, the standards of women football will keep improving. “Players will always get better if they have more exposure and I think it was great idea for CAF to introduce this tournament,” says Darar.
Vihiga Queens FC coach Charles Okere Okoth also made it clear that this tournament was long overdue. “Women football has been lacking a platform like this for the teams in the continent to compete just like the men. I thank CAF for finally making this happen,” added Okoth.
For Heye Birhanu Gizaw whose Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC are the only team that has kept a 100% winning record in the group stage, he has thanked CECAFA and Kenya in particular for oragnising this tournament, but also praised CAF for finally introducing this event. “With this Champions League now in place, we shall now see many teams getting more competitive because they will be playing for silverware at continental level and this gives another platform,” he added.
The other three coaches of Simba Queens FC (Tanzania), Yei Joints Stars (South Sudan) and New Generations FC (Zanzibar) also made it clear that having this Women’s Champions League tournament is very good news and CAF must be applauded.
AFCON U-17
Somalia will fight back after defeat in U-17 AFCON first match – Abdulkhadar

The head coach of Somalia’s U-17 team Mohamed Abdulkhadir Sheikhdon has promised that his team will continue fighting on in the remaining matches at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
Somalia suffered a 3 -0 defeat to Tunisia in their opening Group C match played at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida in Morocco on Tuesday night.
But Sheikhdon has made it clear that most of his players were not used to the big stage in the opening match, but will re-group and improve in the next matches.
“We are determined to keep fighting in the remaining two Group matches because we know what we should do to be able to progress in the competition,” added the Somalia coach.
Somalia will next face The Gambia on April 4th in their second Group C match. The Gambia also suffered a 1-0 defeat to reigning champions Senegal in their opening match.
In Group A the other teams from the CECAFA Zone Uganda and Tanzania have all suffered defeats. Uganda Cubs suffered a 5-0 loss to hosts Morocco, while Tanzania lost 4-1 to Zambia.
The top 10 teams at the U-17 AFCON will ends on April 19th will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.
AFCON U-17
Tanzania suffer defeat in TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON opening tie

Tanzania have suffered a 4-1 defeat to Zambia in their first Group A match at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
After a defensive lapse by the Tanzanian team Jonathan Kalimina gave the Junior Chipolopolo the lead after only 8 minutes at the El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia.
Captained by Kassim Juma Tanzania tried to re-organise themselves and started to create some chances up-front through Jabiri Farijala and Juma Abushiri.
But before the interval Abel Nyirongo made it 2-0 for Zambia after picking a good cross from Nthasilwe Malupande.
After the break Tanzania returned charged and determined to get some goals as they had Juma Sagwe’s shot saved.
But the highly passing Zambian side continued to push forward and Mike Mutale netted their third goal after 79 minutes. Sagwe finally pulled a goal back for Tanzania with a well-timed header that beat Zambia’s goalkeeper Rogers Simumba.
Substitute Gabriel Phiri increased Zambia’s lead with the clock ticking away.
Tanzania will return to action on Thursday with a match against fellow CECAFA side Uganda. The Uganda Cubs lost their opening Group A match 5-0 to hosts Morocco on Sunday night.
CAF Champions League
Sudan’s Al Hilal ready for Al Ahly test in Champions League quarter final

Sudan giants Al Hilal are set to face Egypt’s Al Ahly in the first leg of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday night.
Florent Ibenge, the Al Hilal coach has made it clear that the first leg will be very important because it sets the ground for the return leg.
“We know that Al Ahly are a big team that has won several trophies on the continent, but we have tactically prepared and know how we must handle the match. This round is won over two legs and that is what we have prepared for,” says Ibenge.
Although Al Hilal have been disadvantaged to play all their home matches away from Khartoum because of the political instability back in Sudan, they have showed stability and only lost two matches in all 10 matches they have played in the initial stages going into the quarter final.
Al Hilal, the only team in the CECAFA Zone playing in the quarter final stage will look to skipper Muhamed Abdelrahman to lead the team in hunt for goals together with Adam Coulibaly and Burundian International Jean Claude Girumugisha.
To reach the quarter final stage Al Hilal ejected Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya) and San Pedro (Ivory Coast) in the first and second rounds respectively. They went on to top Group A that MC Alger (Algeria), Young Africans SC (Tanzania) and DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.
The other quarter final matches to be played on Tuesday include Pyramids facing AS FAR, Mamelodi Sundowns battling against Esperance de Tunis, and MC Alger taking on Orlando Pirates.
AFCON U-17
Rude welcome for Uganda Cubs in TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON 2025

Uganda Cubs made a poor start in the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 falling 5-0 to hosts in a Group A match that ended on Sunday night.
Within the early 10 minutes the home side scored two goals through Ilies Belmoktar and Driss at the El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia.
The AS Monaco striker punished the flat footed Ugandan defence after only 3 minutes, and Belmokhtar made it 2-0 off a corner five minutes later.
The CECAFA U-17 reigning champions tried to settle down, but failed to match Morocco’s midfield department. Ziyad Baha also got his name on the score sheet after 24 minutes after converting a penalty.
Uganda later conceded another after 32 minutes with Belmokhtar placing the ball between the legs of past goalkeeper Ashraf Lukyamuzi to make it 4-0.
After the interval Uganda made some changes, but Ziyad Baha netted his second of the night after 72 minutes. The Cubs tried to push forward, but failed to find the goals.
Action shifts to CECAFA’s second representatives Tanzania who face Zambia in another Group A match on Monday at the El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia. On Tuesday Somalia will kick start their Group C campaign with a match against Tunisia.
The top 10 teams at the U-17 AFCON will ends on April 19th will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.
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