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.
NEWS
Rwanda appoint Adel Amrouche as head coach

Experienced tactician Adel Amrouche has been appointed head coach of the Rwanda national team, Amavubi.
The Rwanda Football body, FERWAFA made the announcement on Sunday.
The Algerian-Belgian who guided Tanzania to the 2023 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is expected to start work with Amavubi immediately.
He is expected to be in-charge when Rwanda hosts Nigeria in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Kigali.
Amrouche who also holds a UEFA trainer-licence takes over from German tactician Torsten Spittler Frank whose contract was not renewed late last year.
He will be assisted by Rwanda’s former skipper Eric Nshimiyimana and Dr Carolin Braun as the second assistant coach.
The 56-year old Amrouche has handled other African team like; Burundi, Botswana, Libya and Kenya. He has also handled the Yemen national team before, and other Premier League teams in Africa and in Belgium.
NEWS
Mukura stun APR FC in Rwanda Premier League

Mukura Victory Sport have stunned reigning Rwanda Premier League champions APR FC 1-0 in a match played on Sunday at Amahoro Stadium.
Destin Malanda netted the lone goal after 19 minutes to silence the APR fans at the Stadium.
Recently signed Ugandan players Hakim Kiwanuka and Denis Omedi all started the match for APR FC, but the Mukura Victory Sport team employed a highly defensive approach. APR FC recently lifted Heroes Cup 2025.
After 18 matches played, the army side is placed second with 37 points, while Rayon Sports who were held to a 1-1 draw by Amagaju on Saturday are top with 41 points.
Mukura Victory Sport are placed sixth on the 16-team log with 27points, behind Police FC who have a point more.
CAF Confederation Cup
Facing Al Masry will not be easy for Simba SC – Fadlu

The head coach of Simba SC has said facing Al Masry SC in the quarter final stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will not be an easy task.
After the draw was conducted yesterday in Qatar, the Tanzania Premier League side was drawn to face Egyptian side Al Masry SC.
Speaking after the draw Simba SC head coach Fadlu Davids has made it clear that at this level it is always very tricky and difficult because all the teams are good. “Facing Al Masry will not be easy. But we had pre-season in Egypt and we know what to expect when we play the first leg in Egypt,” explained the head coach.
Fadlu Davids made it clear that it was very important for Simba SC to top the group so that they play the first leg of the quarter final away from home.
The two-legged quarter-final matches will be played on April 2 and April 9 April, 2025.
In the other matches Cup holders Zamalek SC of Egypt will face Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) take on Morocco’s RS Berkane, and CS Constantine battle USM Alger in an Algerian derby.
The winner of the tie between Simba SC and Al Masry, and the clash between Zamalek SC and Stellenbosch FC, while the second semi-final will see the winner between RS Berkane and ASEC Mimosas battle the winner between USM Alger and CS Constantine.
Quarter-Finals fixture
Stellenbosch FC (South Africa) vs Zamalek SC (Egypt)
ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) vs RS Berkane (Morocco)
CS Constantine (Algeria) vs USM Alger (Algeria)
Al Masry (Egypt) vs Simba SC (Tanzania)
CAF Champions League
Sudan’s Al Hilal to face giants Al Ahly in CAF Champions League quarter final

Sudan’s Al Hilal have been drawn to face reigning champions Al Ahly at the quarter final stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The draw of Africa’s most prestigious club tournament was conducted on Thursday at the beIN studio in Doha, Qatar.
Al Hilal are the only team from the CECAFA Zone to make it to the quarter final stage after Young Africans SC from Tanzania dropped out in the group stage.
Despite the political conflict in Sudan which forced Al Hilal handled by Florent Ibenge to play outside the country, they managed to top the group.
Incase Al Hilal eliminate the 12-time champions Al Ahly, they will face the winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the semi-final stage.
The other two quarter final ties will see Pyramids FC (Egypt) take on AS FAR (Morocco), while Algeria’s MC Alger of Algeria face another South African side Orlando Pirates.
Matches at the quarter-final stage will be played over two legs, with the first leg scheduled for April 1st, 2025 and the return leg on April 8th.
Quarter finals
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
Al Ahly SC (Egypt) vs Al Hilal SC (Sudan)
MC Alger (Algeria) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
Pyramids FC (Egypt) vs AS FAR (Morocco)
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