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.
African Schools Football Championship
Day 1: Good start for Uganda Girls team in CAF African Schools Football Championship
Uganda’s Girls team have made a winning start in the 2025 CAF African Schools Football Championship ongoing at the University of Ghana Stadium, Legon in Accra, Ghana.
In their Group B match played Grace Kawiino netted the lone goal to ensure Uganda secured a 1-0 win against reigning champions South Africa.
The tough encounter saw the two sides create several scoring opportunities, but Uganda’s team held strong and tight to secure the three points to boost their chances of making it to the later stages of the competition.
The other Group A matches played saw Benin stop Malawi 1-0, while hosts Ghana also picked a 1-0 win against Morocco.
In at the Boys category reigning champions Tanzania settled for a 1-1 draw against Senegal in a Group B match. Ghana also defeated Uganda 2-0, while South Africa saw off Algeria 2-0 in Group A matches.
Action continues on Thursday CECAFA representatives from Uganda and Tanzania all in action to decide if they progress to the knock out round.
The competition for U-15s which ends on April 26th, 2025 has attracted eight teams for boys and a similar number.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship supported by the Motsepe Foundation had the first Edition held in South Africa in 2023, while the second Edition took centre stage last year in Zanzibar.
Boys
A: Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Algeria
B: Tanzania, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo
Girls
A: Ghana, Morocco, Benin, Malawi
B: South Africa, Uganda, DR Congo, The Gambia
African Schools Football Championship
Tanzania to face Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire in CAF African Schools Football Championship 2025
The reigning Boys champions Tanzania have been drawn in Group B to face Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and DR Congo in the CAF African Schools Football Championship this year.
Eight teams will tussle it out in the Boys and Girls (U-15) categories when the third edition of the Schools competition takes place April 23-26th, 2025 in Accra, Ghana.
The draw was conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Accra on Monday, and assisted by Ghana’s legend Asamoah Gyan and Clementine Toure (Cote d’Ivoire).
Group A for the Boys will have hosts Ghana, Uganda, South Africa and Algeria.
The regional CECAFA Girls champions Uganda have been placed in Group B together with defending champions South Africa, DR Congo and The Gambia. The hosts Ghana are placed alongside Morocco, Benin and Malawi in Group A.
Ahead of the kick-off on the pitch, a total of six workshops started today in Accra which include the Young Referees Programme, Young Reporters Programme, Young Medical Officers Programme, Safety & Security Workshop, CAF D License Coaching Course as well as the CAF Safeguarding Workshops.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship supported by the Motsepe Foundation had the first Edition held in South Africa in 2023, while the second Edition took centre stage last year in Zanzibar.
Boys
A: Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Algeria
B: Tanzania, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo
Girls
A: Ghana, Morocco, Benin, Malawi
B: South Africa, Uganda, DR Congo, The Gambia
Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC have stopped Stellenbosch FC 1-0 in the first leg of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday.
Jean Charles Ahoua’s goal came at the stroke of half time to send the Simba SC fans celebrating at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar. Ahoua curled in a free kick to beat Stellenbosch goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.
After recess the South African Premier League side returned charged and pushed forward, but the Simba SC defenders stood firm.
With the clock ticking away Ahoua dribbled should have made it 2-0 when he dribbled well past the goalkeeper, but surprisingly placed the shot off target with an empty net.
Fadlu Davids, the Simba SC head coach said although they won the first leg, they have to prepare well for the return leg in South Africa. “We had the chance to score many more goals here, but we now have to focus on the return leg,” added the coach.
The second leg will be played on April 27th at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The winner over two legs will make it to the final to take on the winner between RS Berkane (Morocco) and Algeria’s CS Constantine.
Kator FC have maintained their lead in the second round of the 2024/2025 South Sudan Premier League.
After finishing second at the climax of the first round, Kator FC returned with more intent and hunger.
On Saturday Kator defeated Karyom FC 6-1 in a match played at the Juba National Stadium to stretch their lead to 46 points from 19 matches played.
In-form Pap Chol netted four goals, while Martin Otwalo and Micheal Taku also got their names on the score sheet for Kator FC, while Sudan Gatyiek scored the only goal for Karyom FC.
Jamus SC, the only unbeaten team in the South Sudan Premier League so far also kept their second spot after a 3-1 win against arch-rivals El Merriekh SC Bentiu in another match played on Saturday.
George Rodriquez gave Jamus SC the lead in the first half, before Mohamed Adil and Mario Taban added two second half goals. Samuel Akinbinu netted the lone goal for the reigning champions El Merriekh SC Bentiu.
It was a sweet win for Jamus SC who have now defeated their arch-rivals three times this season. Jamus SC who have played 16 matches are second on the log with 44 points, while Holy Family FC are third with 38 points. El Merriekh SC Bentiu are placed 4th on the table.
The 2024/2025 South Sudan Premier League is sponsored by MTN South Sudan.
-
CECAFA10 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
Top stories5 years agoWe need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino
-
CAF African Nations Championship7 months agoAfrican Nations Championship 2025 dates announced
-
NEWS4 years agoFIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers: Eritrea ejects Djibouti 6-1 on aggregate
-
NEWS4 years agoYoung Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
-
CECAFA6 years agoCecafa mourns former chairman Tesfaye Ghebreyesus
-
CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship1 year agoSemi-final stage set for CECAFA U-18 Championship 2023
-
CAF Champions League2 years agoTanzania’s Simba Sports Club exit CAF Champions League at quarter final stage