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.
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifiers
Rwanda through to round 2 in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers
Rwanda has qualified for the second round of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
After stopping Zimbabwe 2-1 in the first leg few days ago, Rwanda followed it up with a goalless draw in the return leg played on Wednesday in Kigali Pele Stadium.
Coach Andre Cassa Mbungo’s team will now prepare to face Nigeria in the second round.
South Sudan who have a 5-0 advantage over Djibouti will return to action against the same side on Friday in the second leg as they look destined to book a place in the second round.
The second round of the qualifiers will be played in September 2025 with Ethiopia facing Kenya, and Tanzania battling Angola in some of the matches. Uganda will take on Namibia, while Burundi battle Zambia in some of the other matches.
Four teams will qualify to represent Africa at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to take place in Poland.
CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Tanzania suffer defeat to Egypt in TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Tanzania suffered a 1-0 defeat to hosts Egypt in a Group A match played on Friday at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The defeat was Tanzania’s fourth straight defeat at the competition which has brought together 13 teams.
Ahmed Sharaf gave Egypt an early lead at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.
Despite going down early in the match, Tanzania dominated more of the match and with 17 shooting attempts against Egypt’s seven.
Bakari Msimu and Jammy Simba had some decent scoring chances later in the match, but failed to finish.
Tanzania who followed Kenya out of the competition kick started their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to South Africa, lost by the same margin against Sierra Leone and suffered another 1-0 defeat to Zambia.
Egypt joined Ghana, South Africa, DR Congo, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco and Sierra Leone at the quarter final stage.
The semi-finalists will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup to take place in Chile.
The inaugural CECAFA 2025 Beach Soccer Championship will kick start the season for the Zone.
Kenya will host the inaugural Championship at the Pirates Beach from June 6-11, 2025.
Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director made it clear that they expect eight teams to take part in the Championship.
“We have also sent out invites to other Member Associations outside our Zone and we we expect positive responses,” added Mossi.
He explained that the inaugural Beach Soccer Championship will lay good foundation for more Beach Soccer competitions in the CECAFA Zone.
“We already have Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and Zanzibar who have confirmed participation and we expect more in the next few days,” added Mossi.
Besides the CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship, the other tournaments lined up include; CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, Dar Port-Kagame Cup, CAF U-17 Zonal qualifier, CAF African Schools Football Championship Zonal Qualifier, CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal Qualifier and the CECAFA Women’s Challenge Cup.
CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Kenya’s Rising Stars hold Nigeria to pick only point in CAF U-20 AFCON
Kenya’s Rising Stars have held Nigeria to a 2-2 draw in their last Group C match at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Kevin Wangaya gave Kenya the lead from the penalty spot after only 4 minutes on Wednesday evening at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt. Nigeria’s Emmanuel Chukwu had handled the ball in the box.
It was the third time the Kenyan side had taken the lead at the tournament. But 9 minutes later Nigeria leveled matters through Kparobo Arierhi with a well taken lob.
After recess the Rising Stars returned charged and pushed forward in search of more goals. William Mwangi netted Kenya’s second goal after 64th minute tapping in from a free-kick cross. But Nigeria’s captain Daniel Bameyi equalized from the penalty spot after Kenyan forward Lawrence Okoth fouled in the box.
Nigeria who have lifted the U-20 AFCON title a record seven times pressed hard, but failed to find the winning goal. Nigeria qualified for the knock out stage after finishing second, while Morocco who beat Tunisia 3-1 finished top.
Kenya exit the tournament after earning only one point. They kick off with a 2-3 defeat to Morocco, and lost the second match 3-1.
Tanzania who have lost all their three Group A matches will play their last match against hosts Egypt on Friday.
Morocco topped the group with seven points following a 3–1 win over Tunisia. Nigeria secured second place with five points, while Tunisia ended third with three points.
The four semi-finalists will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup to take place in Chile.
-
CECAFA10 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
CAF African Nations Championship8 months agoAfrican Nations Championship 2025 dates announced
-
Top stories5 years agoWe need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino
-
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
-
CAF Champions League2 years agoTanzania’s Simba Sports Club exit CAF Champions League at quarter final stage
-
CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship1 year agoSemi-final stage set for CECAFA U-18 Championship 2023