The Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) representatives Uganda and Tanzania are ready to represent the Zone well during the CAF African Schools Football Championship continental finals in Zanzibar.

Fourteen Schools will battle in the finals when the Championship, the second edition takes center stage May 21-24th at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

The two CECAFA Zonal champions for the boys and girls from Uganda, and the two from Tanzania as hosts are expected to carry the Zonal flag high infront of the local fans who will be welcoming a big CAF Championship for the first time.

Trevor Mubiru, the Uganda Boys team captain told Cecafaonline that they are determined to give their best to be able to win the continental trophy. ” We know it will be very tough in Zanzibar, but we are well prepared for the challenge, ” said Mubiru.

After the draw conducted by CAF Legends, Jean Sseninde (Uganda) and Nigeria’s Daniel Amokachi on Sunday, Uganda’s boys team is placed in Pool A alongside Tanzania and Senegal.

Tanzania’s girls is placed in Group A together with Morocco and Congo Republic, while Uganda will tussle it out in Group B alongside South Africa, Togo and The Gambia. Shadia Nabirye, the Uganda girls team captain says they are ready for the challenge in Zanzibar.

The winners of both the Boys’ and Girls’ competition will each receive USD 300 000 prize money, runners-up each receiving USD 200 000, while the bronze medalists will each take home USD 150 000, courtesy of CAF’s partnership with the Motsepe Foundation to be utilised for development projects within schools.

Girls Groups

Group A: Tanzania, Morocco, Congo Republic

Group B: South Africa, Togo, The Gambia, Uganda

Boys Groups

Group A: Tanzania, Senegal, Uganda, 

Group B: South Africa, Benin, Guinea, Libya

Kenya’s Lindey Weey Atieno has said she is more motivated to keep working hard after scooping the Best Girls’ Player Award at the CAF Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers.

Uganda emerged winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories at the climax of the Championship at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya on December 13^th, 2023.

But Atieno says although they lost to Uganda in the final, winning the best Player’s Award has motivated her to keep working hard. “The Award means a lot to me because it’s a good reminder that when you work hard you are able to achieve certain things as a footballer,” added Atieno.

She made it clear that playing five matches in the qualifiers was a very good test for her and the team because it gave them an opportunity to compete at a higher level. “The qualifier was very good because it was a good platform for us players and the Award has made me even keep pushing harder to become a professional footballer,” added Atieno.

Besides Ateino, Uganda’s duo of Huda Ayikeru and Shadia Nabirye also scooped the best goalkeeper and top scorer’s Awards in the girls’ category.

Achraf Kyakuwa from Uganda was voted best player for the boys’ category, while Abraham Nassor (Tanzania) a was best goalkeeper and Simon Wanyama (Uganda) top scorer.

Day 1 of the CECAFA qualifiers of the CAF African Schools Football Championship produced 15 goals in the girls and boys categories at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday.

The Championship sponsored by the CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe has entered it’s second year with the Zonal qualifiers taking place before the final.

After holding a short official parading ceremony of teams witnessed by the CECAFA President, Wallace Karia, teams took to the field with hosts Kenya kicking it off with a 2-0 win against Rwanda in the girls category. Catherine Wambui and Lindey Weey Atieno netted the goals. Kenya recorded another 1-0 win against Tanzania to go top of the girls category.

With only three goals scored in the girls category, the boys category had 12 goals netted on Day 1. Uganda stopped Somalia 3-0 and followed it up with a 2-0 win against Burundi to lead the table ahead of Tanzania who have the same number of points, but lower goal difference.

In the other boys matches played on Monday at the Kasarani Annex 1 Stadium, Kenya stopped Tanzania 1-0, while Rwanda and Burundi settled for a 1-1 draw. After losing their opening match to Tanzania, the Kenyan team later proved a point by beating Somalia 2-0, while Tanzania also collected a 2-0 win against Rwanda.

In the girls category Kenya are top with six points after winning all the two matches 2-0 against Rwanda and 1-0 against Tanzania. The matches between Uganda and Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi all ended goalless.

Leonard Odipo, the Kenya girls team coach told Cecafaonline.com that they are happy to make a good start with two wins on the first day and look forward to registering more good results on Tuesday. 

Yussuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director said although the girls category had few goals scored after four matches, the expect that last two days to be more explosive. ” We are happy the level of competitive is really high and teams prepared well, ” added Mossi.

Day 1 results

Boys category

Kenya 0 Tanzania 1 (Feisal Othman Juma)

Uganda 3 (Adrian Mukwanga – 3 goals) Somalia 0

Rwanda 1 (Ngaboyimanzi Ndizeye Fil) Burundi 1

Somalia 0 Kenya 2 (Alvin Oloo Midimo, Milton Mabea)

Burundi 0 Uganda 2 (Brian Luwagga -2 goals)

Tanzania 2 (Feisal Othman Juma, Juma Mashaka) Rwanda 0

Girls category

Kenya 2 (Catherine Wambui, Lindey Weey Atieno) Rwanda 0

Uganda 0 Tanzania 0

Rwanda 0 Burundi 0

Tanzania 0 Kenya 1 (Lidya Mirembe Odhiambo)