Hosts Uganda and Somalia have qualified for the semi-final stage at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) – CECAFA qualifiers.

Somalia, the 2022 Zonal champions needed a late goal to see off Sudan 1-0 in Group B tie played at the Nakivubo Hamz Stadium in Kampala on Saturday.

Sakariye Mohamed netted the vital goal for the Somalia team two minutes into added time to send the Somalian fans into celebrations.

“We are very happy that we kept strong and pushed on till we scored the vital goal,” said Somalia’s assistant coach Muqtar Ali.

In the second match the hosts Uganda Cubs humbled Kenya 5-0 to finish top of Group A ahead of Tanzania.

Uganda netted three goals in the first half with James Bogere converting an early penalty and added his second before the interval. Isima Mulala Magala also got his name on the score sheet in the first half.

After recess Bogere netted his third goal after 58 minutes after the Kenyan defending line again failed to close out spaces. Substitute Simon Wanyama also made sure he increased Uganda’s lead to five goals with a hard shot after 78 minutes.

Uganda will now face Somalia in the second semi-final match, while South Sudan battle Tanzania on December 24^th, 2024. The finalists will automatically qualify for the TotalEergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to take place next year in Ivory Coast.

The final stage of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 takes centre stage this weekend with two matches on card in the CECAFA Zone.

South Sudan who stopped Kenya in the last round will host Rwanda at the Juba National Stadium, while Ethiopia face Sudan in a match to be played in Benghazi, Libya, all on Sunday.

Burundi will also face Uganda in the first leg on December 26^th in a match they will host at the Nakivubo Hamz Stadium in Kampala. The return legs will be played before December 29th, 2024.

Already hosts of the CHAN 2024 Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have automatically qualified ahead of the 19 teams tournament exclusively featuring players from domestic leagues across Africa.

The tournament will take place in East Africa from February 1-28, 2025. It is only Sudan and Rwanda who have hosted the CHAN tournament before in the CECAFA Zone.

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe has praised Wallace Karia for the good work he is doing in the development of Football in Tanzania.

Dr. Motsepe said this in Dar es Salaam on Thursday during the start of his two- day visit of the three nations that will host the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 (CHAN).

“I am proud of the good work Wallace Karia is doing in the development of Football in Tanzania,” Dr. Motsepe said this while touring the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Karia is the President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

The CAF President also thanked Tanzania’s President, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan and Hussein Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar for the continuously support of football development.

Dr. Motsepe was accompanied by the 4^th CAF Vice President Seidou Mbombo Njoya, Chairperson of the CHAN Organising Committee, Tanzania Football Federation President Wallace Karia and CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba.

The CAF delegation are expected to arrive in Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday night ahead of their inspection on Friday and a meeting with Kenya President William Ruto and leadership of Kenya Football Federation. They will later travel to Kampala on Friday afternoon to meet with the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the leadership of FUFA.

Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will hosts CHAN 2024 from 1 to 28 February 2025.

The President of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has applauded Simba SC following their 2-1 win against CS Sfaxien in a TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup match played on Sunday in Dar es salaam.

Sfaxien took an early lead through Hazem Haj Hassen after only three minutes at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, but Simba SC fought back strongly.

Denis Kibu leveled matters four minutes later and netted the winning goal nine minutes into added time.

The win sends Simba SC to six points and third on the log, while Bravos do Maquis who beat CS Constantine last evening 3-2 move top of Group A.

Following Simba SC’s hard fought victory, the President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan has come out to congratulate them for the good display.

“Congratulations to the Lions Club for the victory in the Confederations Cup game in Africa against CS Sfaxien. You continue to give Tanzanians happiness and entertainment by flying the flag of our country internationally, while we continue to remain united in work, peace, unity, stability and solidarity. I wish you all the best in your next games,” said the President

Simba SC, CECAFA’s only representatives in the Group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will next travel to face CS Sfaxien on January 5^th, 2025 in Tunisia.