The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe has said Football is a big asset because it it’s power brings Africa together.

Dr. Motsepe said this on Monday night ahead of the official draw of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 draw conducted in Rabat, Morocco.

“We shall use the power of Football to show the rest of the World that African Football is growing. One example was during the World Cup in Qatar when an African team Morocco made history and reached the semi-finals,” added Dr. Motsepe.

Speaking at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat where the ceremony was taking place, the CAF President expressed his deepest gratitude to the Moroccan King Mohammed VI.

He said the biggest competition in Africa will be taking place in December in Morocco and it promises to be the best ever. “All of us are confident the AFCON in Morocco will be the most competitive and successful,” added Dr. Motsepe.

The CAF President also made it clear that that he was excited that 1.4 billion people watched the last AFCON in 2023. “This is an effort of all the 54 Member Associations and the different African governments,” he added.

 The TotatalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 which will bring together 24 teams will take place December 21, 2025 to January 18th, 2026.

The CECAFA Ordinary Assembly has approved five tournaments to be staged by the Zone in the 2025 calendar.

During the non-elective Ordinary General Assembly held at the Imperial Plaza Hotel in Juba, South Sudan on Wednesday, the delegates approved the five competitions.

Auka John Gecheo who presented the competitions report on behalf of the chairman of the Committee Isayas Jira Bosho, pointed out that the tournaments have been planned after considering the different CAF and FIFA tournaments on the International calendar.

The Zonal body agreed to have the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Competition in Kenya between May 31^st to June 7^th, while the CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge and the CECAFA Senior Men’s Challenge Cup have also been lined up.

The Dar Port Kagame Cup 2025 will be expected to take place August 31^st to September 14^th, and the CAF Women’s Champions League, CECAFA qualifiers.

However, Member Associations have been asked to apply to host any of the tournaments that have been planned to run in the 2025 calendar.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has today held a successful Ordinary General Assembly at Imperial Play, Hotel in Juba, South Sudan.

All the 12 Member Association attended the Assembly that was also graced by officials from FIFA and CAF.

Dr. Joseph Geng Akech, the South Sudan Minister of Youth and Sports while opening the function thanked CECAFA for finally bringing the Assembly to South Africa.

“We thank CECAFA for accepting to bring this Assembly to South Sudan and the South Sudan Football Association for making sure the country hosts this big event,” added Dr. Akech.

He highlighted that sports and Football in particular brings about peace, unites people together and also gives young people livelihood.

Wallace Karia, the CECAFA President also thanked all members for gracing the Assembly in Juba. He highlighted that it was a second year that the CECAFA Zone had a team qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after Tanzania in 2022 and Kenya last year. He made it clear that CECAFA has continued to improve and also have several tournaments which give member Associations the opportunity to compete and improve.

On behalf of the South Sudan Football Association (SSF), Gen, Agustino Maduot Parek, the President thanked CECAFA for having trust in South Sudan to be able to host the Assembly for the first time. “We want to thank CECAFA for giving us this opportunity and the government of South Sudan under the leadership of Salva Kiir Mayardit for giving us the blessing to have this big event take place here,” added Parek.

Djbrilla Hima, President of the Niger Football Federation also thanked CECAFA for inviting him and Presidents from other Zones to the Assembly. “We are happy to see the great unity among CECAFA members,” he added.

The other guests who graced the Assembly included President of WAFU A, Bajo Lamin Kaba, President UNIFAC, Maolas Jean Guy Blaise and the Vice President of WAFU B Gasua Ibrahim Musa, also President of the Nigeria Football Federation.

CAF was represented by the Head of Member Associations, Sarah Mukuna and Genan Muhamed, while FIFA was represented by the head of FIFA Office in Rwanda, David Ndayisenga, and Abigail Lemma Hailemicheal.

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Several guests including representatives from Azam TV also attended the Assembly which saw members approve the the budget for 2025 and also agree on the tournaments that will be held this calendar year.

Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC have topped Group A in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Coach Fadlu Davids team silenced Algeria’s CS Constantine 2-0 in their last Group A match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Simba SC who qualified for the quarter final stage a week ago after picking a crucial 1-1 away draw against Bravos do Maquis

Scored in the second half through Kibu Denis and Leonel Ateba.

The win sent Simba SC top of Group A with 13 points, while CS Constantine finished second with 12 points.

“It was not a very easy match since we played without fans. But I thank my players for pushing hard and finding the goals in the second half,” said Simba SC coach Fadlu Davids after the match.

Simba SC together with CS Constantine join other teams that have qualified for the quarter-finals; RS Berkane (Morocco), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), USM Alger (Alger) and Zamalek (Egypt).

Last season Simba SC together with Young Africans SC reached the quarter-final stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.