NEWS
Ethiopia to host 2021 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup
The Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) has accepted to host the 2021 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
Members of the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) made the decision during a meeting held at the Sofitel Hotel in Rabat, Morocco on Thursday ahead of the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) taking place today.
“We deliberated well and members decided we have five tournaments taking place through the year,” CECAFA Executive Director Auka Gaceho confirmed.
While Ethiopia will host the Men’s Challenge Cup which will be an U-23 competition this time round, Djibouti will host the CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge and Tanzania will stage the CECAFA Kagame Club Championship. Uganda will host the U-20 Women’s Challenge Cup and Kenya CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal Competition.
It was confirmed that Somalia will not participate in the Women’s Champions League qualifier, while all other member Associations other than Rwanda and Eritrea confirmed their participation
The meeting also resolved that all Club and Senior competitions will be staged between June and August when the Leagues are on a break. The Age grade competitions will be staged during School breaks.
“We are optimistic the region will have very successful tournaments during the year,” added Gacheo. The meeting was also attended by CECAFA President Wallace Karia and his Board members.
Because of the challenges of COVID-19, the region only held two tournaments last year, the U-20 Afcon and U-17 Afcon qualifiers in Tanzania and Rwanda respectively.
Hosts for 2021 tournaments
CECAFA U- 20 women’s Challenge Cup – Uganda
CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge – Djibouti
CECAFA Kagame Club Championship – Tanzania CECAFA
CECAFA Men’s Challenge Cup –Ethiopia
CECAFA/CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal Competition – Kenya
Burundi Football
Burundi’s Rukinzo FC book TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup slot
Rukinzo FC have defeated Aigle Noir CS to win the 2026 Burundi President’s Cup.
After a goalless first half, Patrick Mawazo netted the lone goal after 65 minutes in the final played at the Intwari Stadium on Friday.
Aigle Noir CS tried to fight back strongly and missed several scoring opportunities.
The victory ensures Rukinzo FC will now represent Burundi in the 2026/2027 CAF Confederation Cip, while the Primus Premier League champions Aigle Noir CS play in the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League.
NEWS
Guest side Al Hilal SC win Rwanda BK Pro League
Sudan giants Al Hilal SC have again written history by winning the 2025/2026 Rwanda Premier League title – BK Pro League.
Last season they also emerged champions of the Mauritania Premier League.
The guest side Al Hilal SC were crowned champions after defeating Gasogi United 2-1 in a League match played on Wednesday.
They finished with 70 points, ahead of army side APR FC who bagged 59 points. Another guest side from Sudan Al Merriekh collected 58 points to finish third.
The two Sudan teams were forced to relocate and play as guest sides in the Rwanda Premier League because of the political conflict that affected Football activities back in Sudan.
Al Hilal SC becomes the first club in history to win top-flight league titles in Sudan, Mauritania and Rwanda.
However, according to the regulations by the Rwanda Premier League Board, Al-Hilal SC will not be allowed to represent Rwanda in African competitions.
Al Hilal SC will still play in the play-offs of the Elite League organized by the Sudan Football Association (SFA) to determine which teams will play in the 2026/2027 CAF competitions.
Handled by Romanian coach Laurențiu Reghecampf, Al-Hilal SC also reached the quarter final stage of the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
2026 AFCON U-17
Uganda Cubs kick start AFCON U-17 with 3-0 victory against DR Congo
A 10-man Uganda Cubs side have made a winning start in the 2026 TotaIEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which kicked off today in Rabat, Morocco.
The CECAFA side humbled debut making DR Congo 3-0 in their opening Group B match played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex on T8 ground.
Midfielder Own Mukisa gave Uganda the lead after 37 minutes, and Nicholas Kawooya made it 2-0 at the stroke of half time.
The DR Congo team returned charged and tried to push forward, but failed to tame the Ugandan defending line. Uganda had Trevor Mubiru sent-off, but the Cubs still added a goal by substitute Abulshakur Bobi.
“I am very happy that my team was disciplined and managed to score three goals in the opening match,” said Uganda’s head coach Laryea Kingston.
Uganda are now top of Group B after Cote d’Ivoire also defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the earlier match of the same group.
Another CECAFA side Ethiopia started their campaign with a goalless draw against Egypt in a Group A match.
The CECAFA U-17 reigning champions Tanzania will take to the field on Thursday in a Group C match against Mozambique.
The top two teams in each of the four groups earn direct qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026, while the other two slots are determined via a playoffs. A total of 10 teams will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.
2026 AFCON U-17
Ethiopia, Uganda face tough tests as AFCON U-17 campaign kicks-off
CECAFA Teams Ethiopia and Uganda will take to the field as the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.
The competition will be played in a festival-style competition model with 30 matches to be played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex.
The opening match on Wednesday between hosts Morocco and Tunisia, semi-finals and final will be played at the Stade Moulay Hassan in Rabat.
Ethiopia will face a tough test in a Group A match against Egypt in what promises to be a thriller. Benjamin Ziemer, Ethiopia’s head coach has made it clear that it will be great to have a good start in the competition.
“We have prepared well in Ethiopia and a few days in Morocco and the players are ready for the campaign,” said Ziemer, an American born coach.
Dawit Kassaw Yirdaw who was one of the top scorers in the Zonal qualifiers last last year together with Biyam Abrha will be some of the key Ethiopian players to watch.
Uganda who are not new to this stage will also start their campaign today in a Group B encounter against debut making DR Congo.
The Uganda Cubs will go into the match breathing with some confidence after stopping Mozambique 3-1 and Mali 1-0 in two friendly matches played in Casablanca last week.
“We have prepared very well and the team is looking in shape ahead of our first match. Our major focus is to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup again like the team di last year and later battle for the title,” says Uganda’s head coach Laryea Kingston.
The Uganda Cubs will look to forward Owen Mukisa and instrumental Henry Muhoozi who are expected to play pivotal roles for the team.
The top two teams in each of the four groups earn direct qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026, while the other two slots are determined via a playoffs. A total of 10 teams will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.
Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia are the teams that qualified to represent the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) at the 2026 AFCON U-17.
May 13th Fixture
Morocco vs Tunisia (A)
Egypt vs Ethiopia (A)
Cote d’Ivoire vs Cameroon (B)
Uganda vs DR Congo (B)
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