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.
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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