Ethiopian teams arrive for African School Champions Cup in Kinshasa

Two Ethiopian school teams have arrived in Kinshasa, DR Congo ahead of the African School Champions Cup 2022.

The tournament to run February 19-20^th is organized by the World Football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Ethiopia, the CECAFA representatives are represented by Dela Secondary School (Girls), and Awaro Secondary School (Boys).

The best Under 16 teams from each of the six countries will battle in the inaugural tournament at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa from February 19-20th.

The African School Champions Cup will feature girls’ and boys’ U-16 school teams from Benin, Ethiopia, South Africa, Senegal, Morocco and the host nation DR Congo.

Simon Habtamu, coach of the Ethiopian Schools team said he was happy that the U-16 Schools team have got an opportunity to show case their talent at this stage. “This team has a great spirit and hopefully we are going to do a great job,” added Habtamu.

The programme began in April last year when FIFA signed a MoU with the DR Congo Football Association (FECOFA) and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to organise schools football tournaments around the country of 90 million people. It was then extended to other countries with the support of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Last year a pilot project was held in Benin with a week-long Schools tournament jointly organised by FIFA, the Benin Football Association (FEBEFOOT) and the Benin Ministry of Sport.