NEWS
It’s D-Day for CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup semi finals in Ethiopia
After battling through the group stages four teams will this afternoon be all out to prove a point at the semi final stage of the CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup.
The first game will see Tanzania face surprise package South Sudan, and later Burundi will take on Kenya’s Emerging Stars at the Bahir Dar Stadium, Ethiopia.
Kim Poulsen, the Tanzania coach has made it clear that they will not underrate the South Sudan team because they are a physical team that is also good at passing the ball. “We must approach this semi final match with a lot of caution and also take our chances,” added Poulsen.
The Tanzanian team will however miss the suspended first choice goalkeeper Boniface Mnata Metacha who accumulated two yellow cards in their group games where they beat DR Congo 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Uganda.
For the South Sudan team that scored late goals to beat Djibouti 2-0 in their last group game to make it to the knock out stage, they will hope that Dominic Angelo Kornello and Aluk Akeck Mabior find their scoring touch again.
South Sudan’s head coach Simon James Yor made it clear that although the Tanzanian team is good on the ball, his team will use a strategy which will tame their opponents. “We also need to be sharp at goal because this is a knock out stage,” added the coach.
The second semi final match pitting the highest scoring teams in the tournament promises to be a thriller. Paul Reagan Otieno and Benson Ochieng Oluoch will be determined to continue with their scoring form for the Kenyan team that has also not conceded a goal yet. “We have had enough time to rest and also prepare for the semi final. I have watched Burundi play and they are not an easy side,” said Kenya’s coach Stanley Khayo Okumbi.
Kenya started their campaign with a 3-0 win against Djibouti, before stopping South Sudan 2-0. The Burundi team humbled Eritrea 3-0 and settled for a 1-1 draw against hosts Ethiopia.
Burundi’s coach Jimmy Ndayizeye made it clear that playing at the semi final stage is good for his young players. “I am happy that we are at the semi final stage. We are going to approach this game with a lot of caution to defend well and also try to take our chance at goal,” added Ndayizeye.
Tomorrow action will shift to the classification matches with Ethiopia facing DR Congo to determine which team will be ranked seventh and eighth, while Eritrea battle Uganda in a fifth and sixth ranking match. The tournament will come to climax on July 30th.
History has been made as the South Sudan Premier League kicked off on December 23rd, 2024 for the first time since the country got Independence.
Al Malakia Juba FC was part of the history as they defeated El Merriekh SC Bentiu 2-0 in the opening match played at the Juba Stadium on Monday.
Second half goals by Emmanuel Jowang and Mabior Herjok were enough to ensure Al Malakia Juba FC collected maximum points to kick-start the season on a winning note.
Augustino Maduot Parek, President of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) told Cecafaonline that they are happy to start the South Sudan Premier League. “This is a crucial step in the development of Football in South Sudan,” added Parek.
Action continues on Tuesday with Kator FC Juba hosting Wajuma FC, while Juba Local Football Association representatives and two times South Sudan Cup champions, Jamus FC battle Bentiu City FC on Wednesday.
The inaugural South Sudan Premier League with 14 teams and sponsored by MTN South Sudan will conclude in June 2025.
It’s advantage for South Sudan and Sudan after the two teams picked vital wins in the first leg matches of the last round of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 qualifiers on Sunday.
South Sudan stopped Rwanda 3-2 in a match played at the Juba National Stadium in Juba, while Sudan stopped Ethiopia 2-0 in a match played in Libya.
After 12 minutes an own goal by Aimable Nsabimana gave the home side the lead. Mandela Malish increased South Sudan’s lead after 20 minutes.
Rwanda returned determined after the interval and pulled a goal back through Kevin Muhire after only four minutes.
But the home team continued to attack in numbers and Ebon Malish netted their third goal after 53 minutes. The visitors however did not give up and scored a second goal through Didier Mugisha after 66 minutes.
In the second match involving teams from the CECAFA Zone Ethiopia who hosted the first leg match in Libya suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sudan in a match played at the Benghazi Martyrs Stadium, Benina. Yasir Mozamil and Musa Kanti netted the goals for Sudan.
On December 26th, 2024 Burundi will host Uganda in the first leg to be played at the Nakivubo Hamz Stadium in Kampala. The return legs for the three matches will be played between December 27-29th, 2024.
Already hosts of the CHAN 2024 Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have automatically qualified ahead of the 19 teams tournament exclusively featuring players from domestic leagues across Africa.
The tournament will take place in East Africa from February 1-28, 2025.
The final stage of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 takes centre stage this weekend with two matches on card in the CECAFA Zone.
South Sudan who stopped Kenya in the last round will host Rwanda at the Juba National Stadium, while Ethiopia face Sudan in a match to be played in Benghazi, Libya, all on Sunday.
Burundi will also face Uganda in the first leg on December 26th in a match they will host at the Nakivubo Hamz Stadium in Kampala. The return legs will be played before December 29th, 2024.
Already hosts of the CHAN 2024 Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have automatically qualified ahead of the 19 teams tournament exclusively featuring players from domestic leagues across Africa.
The tournament will take place in East Africa from February 1-28, 2025. It is only Sudan and Rwanda who have hosted the CHAN tournament before in the CECAFA Zone.
AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP
CAF President praises Wallace Karia for Football development in Tanzania
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe has praised Wallace Karia for the good work he is doing in the development of Football in Tanzania.
Dr. Motsepe said this in Dar es Salaam on Thursday during the start of his two- day visit of the three nations that will host the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 (CHAN).
“I am proud of the good work Wallace Karia is doing in the development of Football in Tanzania,” Dr. Motsepe said this while touring the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Karia is the President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).
The CAF President also thanked Tanzania’s President, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan and Hussein Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar for the continuously support of football development.
Dr. Motsepe was accompanied by the 4th CAF Vice President Seidou Mbombo Njoya, Chairperson of the CHAN Organising Committee, Tanzania Football Federation President Wallace Karia and CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba.
The CAF delegation are expected to arrive in Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday night ahead of their inspection on Friday and a meeting with Kenya President William Ruto and leadership of Kenya Football Federation. They will later travel to Kampala on Friday afternoon to meet with the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the leadership of FUFA.
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will hosts CHAN 2024 from 1 to 28 February 2025.
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