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.
The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 will finally take place August 2-30th, 20226.
CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) headed by President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe approved the new dates during a meeting held on January 27th in Rabat, Morocco.
The CHAN 2024 tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The event was originally meant to take place February 1-28th, but was postponed.
In the draw conducted on January 15th, 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya was placed in Group A with two-time winners Morocco and DR Congo, as well as Angola and Zambia.
Tanzania are in Group B alongside Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic in their pool. Uganda in Group C will wait to know the other two opponents together with Niger and Guinea.
The other representatives from the CECAFA Zone Sudan will play in Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea who replaced Congo who were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in their last match in the qualifiers.
Two teams must still book their places at the finals, with Algeria, Comoros, Gambia, Malawi, Egypt, South Africa and Gabon to take part in a qualification campaign to fill the slots in the draw for Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2.
The CHAN tournament features only players who ply their trade in their domestic leagues and is a platform to showcase the quality of homegrown talent.
Group A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia
Group B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic
Group C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2
Group D: Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Nigeria
Leading multi-energy company TotalEnergies has renewed it’s partnership with the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to run 2025-2028.
The agreement presentation ceremony of the renewed partnership was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Tuesday evening.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the CAF President said that it is a very productive journey African Football is having with TotalEnergies. “It is not just the money they bring, but it is also what TotalEnergies represents,” added Dr. Motsepe.
He said CAF is excited to continue its partnership with TotalEnergies. “This partnership contributes to the development and global competitiveness of Football in the 54 African countries whose Football Federations are Members of CAF. CAF has introduced several projects over the past few years to develop,” added the CAF President.
On his part Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies said: “Since 2016, TotalEnergies is honoured and privileged to shine a spotlight on African football, and we are thrilled to pursue this collaboration with the CAF for the next four years.”
He made it clear that it’s been a nice journey for TotalEnergies with African Football because it’s in Africa where the heart of the company lies. “This extension allows the Company to keep celebrating African football alongside all its stakeholders, customers and employees, and to share the commitment and passion of millions of Africans.”
In the same ceremony Dr. Motsepe praised the CECAFA and Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President, Wallace Karia for the great work he is doing developing Football. “Wallace Karia I am so proud of you and what you are doing for Football,” added Dr. Motsepe.
The renewed partnership means TotalEnergies will now sponsor 12 events between 2025-2028 including; TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship, TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations, TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup, CAF Awards and the CAF African Schools Football Championship.
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 31st to June 7th, 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 31st to September 14th, 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.
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