NEWS
Uganda Hippos win, South Sudan go down fighting in TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON
Uganda made a winning start at the on-going 2023 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday.
The Hippos dispatched The Central African Republic 2-1 in the first Group B match played at the Suez Canal Stadium.
Skipper Isma Mugulusi gave the Hippos the lead after 47 minutes, and John Paul Dembe made it 2-0 after 74 minutes as coach Jackson Mayanja’s team dominated play. Boris Gbenou pulled one back for The Central African Republic in added time.
Titus Ssematimba, Ivan Irinimbabazi and Travis Mutyaba all caused The Central African Republic defenders all sorts of trouble.
“”My lads played a good game and the first game is not always easy at big tournaments like this. It’s a big stage for the players and we won against a good team. But we need to keep focused for the other matches to come,” said Uganda’s coach Mayanja.
In the second Group B match debutants South Sudan put up a spirited fight but lost 2-1 to Congo Brazzaville. Maurile Bassinga netted the opening goal for Congo Brazzaville at the stroke of half time, and Sousou Ilendo doubled the scores after the interval off a penalty.
The junior Bright Star continued to attack and were rewarded when Paul Mara scored with seven minutes to full time. Peter James, the South Sudan coach said they were unlucky to get a key players injured earlier, but added that his team had played better in the second half.
Action in Group B will return on Thursday with joint table leaders Uganda Hippos and Congo Brazzaville facing off, while South Sudan take on The Central African Republic. The 12-team competition will climax on March 11th.
The tournament also doubles as the African qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Indonesia. The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup.
Gor Mahia FC have been crowned 2025/2026 FKF Premier League champions.
Handled by coach Charles Akonnor, the Gor Mahia side lost their last match 1-0 to Nairobi United at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The defeat did not spoil the party as the giants lifted their 22nd League title and were crowned at the same Stadium. “We are vey happy that after a tough season we emerged champions. I thank the team and management for the efforts,” added coach Akonnor.
Gor Mahia FC completed the League with 69 points from 34 matches played, while second placed AFC Leopards collected 64 points, and Kenya Police FC in third place with 55 points.
K’Ogalo will receive KSh15 million (approximately $116,000) in prize money and return to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League next season.
The Sudan Football Association (SFA) has organized two Football development workshops in the capital Khartoum.
The development comes after over two years of non activity because of the civil war that started in 2023.
Besides the referees and assessors workshop taking place, the Elite League is also on-going.
Ali Ahmed, the Head of Referees at the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) is conducting the two week workshop for referees and assessors at the Sudan Football Association (SFA) Technical Centre.
“We are very happy to have these workshops back in Sudan because Football contributes a big role in peace and integration here. CECAFA is also proud to support Sudan in Football development,” added Ahmed.
Osama Atta Elmanan Hassan, the SFA Vice President says they are glad to have Football back to Khartoum and also organize Football development workshops.
Vipers Sports Club are champions of the 2025/2026 StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
The Kitende based side defeated Maroons FC 3-0 in a match played at the Wankulukuku Stadium on Tuesday to clinch their eighth Premier League title.
Veteran Yunus Sentamu gave Vipers SC the lead, before Usama Arafat and Karim Watambala added to more goals to ensure Vipers SC clinched the title with one more match to be played.
The win and a goalless draw by closest challengers KCCA FC against URA FC ensured Vipers bagged yet another trophy as they now have 64 points from 29 matches.
In the other matches played on Tuesday army side UPDF settled for a goalless draw against Calvary FC, while Police FC and Entebbe UPPC also drew 1-1, Bidco FC and Kitara FC drew 1-1, while Express FC and Lugazi FC also ended 0-0
Vipers SC handled by Belgian Van Jacky Minnaert will now represent Uganda in the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
CECAFA teams Sudan and Ethiopia have been placed in Group J 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA qualifiers.
In the draw conducted at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday, the two CECAFA teams were placed alongside Senegal and Mozambique.
The draw was conducted by former African football stars Max-Alain Gradel (Cote d’Ivoire), William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Essam El Hadary (Egypt) and Trésor Mputu (DR Congo).
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will co-host the tournament from June 19 June to July 17, 2027. Co-hosts will take part in qualifiers but have secured their places as co-hosts, so one team from their pool will join them.
The first matches of the group qualifiers will kick-off in September, 2026.
Group D also has two CECAFA teams Kenya and Eritrea together with South Africa and Guinea. Somalia who are making a return to the group stage of the qualifiers after several years are placed alongside Ivory Coast, Ghana and The Gambia.
The 48 teams that will play in the qualifiers have been placed into 12 groups, with the top two in each pool advancing to the continental finals.
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