The CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship 2025 finally kicks off this afternoon with Burundi facing reigning champions Uganda Crested Cranes at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Olivier Alian Niyungeko, Burundi’s head coach told Cecafaonline that although they expect a very tough encounter against Uganda, his team is well prepared.

“This is a kind of tournament where every match is very important and we want to make a good start,” says Niyungeko who will miss the services of Rah Roy Nzoyikorera who has been battling a fever since the team arrived in Tanzania.

Sheryl Botes Ulanda, Uganda Crested Cranes head coach also made it clear that what is important will be to have a good start in the tournament. “We need to approach every match strongly and starting with a win will give us a good start,” added Ulanda.

In their last meeting at the 2022 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship Uganda defeated Burundi 4-1 in the group stage and 3-1 in the final played at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

The second match of the day will see South Sudan face a tough test against the Twiga Stars of Tanzania. Fresh from recording two wins against DR Congo international friendly matches, coach Bakari Shime will expect some of his key forwards like Opa Clement Tukumbuke and Clara Cleitus Luvanga to be at their best to find the goals.

“We shall not underrate any team in this tournament,” says Shime. South Sudan who will reply on majority of the Yei Joint Stars players will also be hoping to make a good start.

The regional competition which has attracted five teams will be played on a round robin basis with all the teams playing four matches.

“We have had to push the kick-off by a day as the South Sudan team because of some challenges can only arrive on Wednesday,” says Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

“The competition with help our representatives to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania prepare better and the other teams to get more exposure,” says the CECAFA Competitions Director Yussuf Mossi.

The Football Federation of Djibouti (FDF) has announced that Stéphane Nado is the new head coach of the senior men’s national team.

Souleiman Hassan Waberi, President of FDF unveiled Nado and his assistant Anthony Rimasson during a function held in Djibouti on Wednesday.

The FDF President, also a FIFA Council Member thanked the outgoing coach Abdirahman Okie for his good service, and welcomed the new coaches. He also made it clear that they have set long term and short term goals for the new coaches with the World Cup 2026 qualifiers in perspective.

Nado who recently handled Morocco’s Renaissance Club Athletic Zemamra says it is an honor for him to serve Djibouti Football and that he will do everything to contribute to its development.

The new head coach of French nationality started his coaching career at 29 years with the U-17 team at En Avant Guingamp. In 2010, he joined Stade Brestois as the Academy Director and Assistant coach of the first team.

In 2014, he took charge of the U-19 team of the Marseille Olympics, and was later in 2021 he was appointed manager of Monaco B which features in the National Championship 2. In January 2022, he briefly secured the interim first team of Monaco for a sixteenth round of the Coupe de France against Quevilly-Rouen Métropole, which Monaco won 3-1.

In Africa Nado handled Morocco’s junior women’s national teams from 2022. Under her leadership, Morocco participated in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India and also qualified for the U-20 Women’s World cup in Colombia.

Tanzania have picked a 2-1 win against Eswatini in a Group C match played on Wednesday afternoon at the on-going 2025 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup.

Going into the game, Tanzania had already been eliminated after Madagascar led the Group with 4 points, while Taifa Stars was bottom after losing their opening match.

But Taifa Stars playing for pride went all out to ensure they picked a win. Andy Junior Magagula gave Eswatini the lead after 29 minutes at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Iddy Seleman Nado leveled matters after 37 minutes.

In the 69th minute Tanzania made it 2-1 after Shekhani Khamis’ shot slipped through the arms of Eswatini’s goalkeeper Bongiswa Dlamini.

Hemed Suleiman, Taifa Stars head coach said that the three matches they played had helped his team prepare ahead of upcoming matches. Before the match today Tanzania settled for a goalless draw against South Africa in an International friendly match, and lost 1-0 to Madagascar in the opening tie of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup.

Group C winners Madagascar will now advance to play Angola, while South Africa face Comoros at the semi-final stage.

Former Uganda Cranes captain Ibrahim Sekagya has been promoted to the role of assistant coach of Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls FC.

“Ibrahim Sekagya has been promoted to a full-time First Team Assistant Coach. Ibra will join the first team immediately and coach his final at New York Red Bulls II match will be on June 15 vs Chattanooga FC,” announced the Club on Tuesday.

Sekagya has been serving as the head coach for the reserve team (New York Red Bulls II) in the MLS Next Pro League since February 2023.

“We are pleased to add Ibra [Sekagya] to our first team coaching staff on a full-time basis,” said Head of Sport Jochen Schneider.

“He has led the development of many great players at NYRB II and have led the team to a great start to the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. He has earned this opportunity, and we are grateful to have him as a part of this organization.”

The former KCC FC defender in the Ugandan Premier League will have the opportunity to coach the New York Red Bulls FC team he featured for between 2013-2014 after moving from sister club New York Red Bulls Salzburg.

After the announcement made by the Major League Soccer side, Sekagya went to his X (former Twitter) handle and posted, “It’s with great pleasure!