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 Uganda Cubs have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025.
Coach Brian Ssenyondo’s team came from a goal down to defeat The Gambia 2-1 in a play-off played on Saturday at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Ahmed Njundu Kanyi gave The Gambia the lead after only 21 seconds at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida.
But the Uganda Cubs fought back steadily to level matters after 14 minutes through James Bogere. He capitalized on a good pass by Elvis Torach and shot past the Gambian goalkeeper.
After the goal the CECAFA U-17 reigning champions Uganda piled more pressure dominating play before they made it 2-1 after 33 minutes. Bogere scored his second goal of the night from close range.
In the second half The Gambia made some changes and threw everything at the Uganda Cubs defending line. But the CECAFA giants stood firm and absorbed the pressure well with goalkeeper Adrian Mukwanga also making timely blocks.
The Cubs also created some decent scoring opportunities through substitute Simon Wanyama and Richard Okello, but failed to score more goals.
It was all celebration after the final whistle as the Uganda Cubs booked a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup to take place in Qatar. To reach this stage Uganda lost 5-0 and 2-1 to Morocco and Zambia in Group A of the competition, but beat Tanzania 3-0. It is the first time that a team from Uganda qualifies for a FIFA World Cup event and the first that a men’s team from the CECAFA Zone qualifies for a FIFA World Cup competition.
Africa was granted ten spots at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 to take place Qatar. The other African teams that have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup include; Morocco, Zambia, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali. The last slot will be decided in the second play-off match between Egypt and Angola.
Tanzania Premier League side, Simba Sports Club have booked a place in the semi-final stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
After losing the first leg 2-0 to Al Masry, the Tanzanian side replied by winning by the same margin and went on to win 4-1 in penalty shoot-outs at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday.
Motivated by the home fans Simba SC kick started the match with a lot of intent attacking in numbers, but the Egyptian side held on strong. But after 2 minutes Elie Mpanzu Nkibisawala put Simba SC ahead with a hard shot from yards away that beat Al Masry goalkeeper Mahmoud Ahmed.
Ten minutes later Ugandan International Steven Dese Mukwala nodded in Simba SC’s second goal from close range.
After recess the visiting team reorganized themselves and defended I numbers to deny the home side more goals. During the penalty shoot-outs Simba SC’s goalkeeper Moussa Camara saved two penalties, while Jean Charles Ahoua, Mukwala, Kibu Denis Prosper and Shomari Salum Kapombe all scored for Simba SC to ensure the Tanzanian side sealed through 4-1.
“I thank my players for the hard work because after losing the first leg they knew that they hard to work harder to be able to qualify for the next stage,” said Simba SC’s head coach Fadlu Davids after the match.
Simba SC will face the winner between Stellenbosch SC (South Africa) and Zamalek (Egypt) at the semi-final stage.
Sudan Premier League side Al Hilal are out of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Coach Florent Ibenge’s team lost 1-0 in their quarter final return leg against Al Ahly played at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
The Egyptian giants qualified on a 2-0 goal aggregate having won the first leg 1-0.
After a goalless first half, Al Hilal piled lots of pressure, but failed to find the goals. Ali Abdalla came close after 63 minutes, but Al Ahly goalkeeper Taher Muhamed was quick to block the ball.
It was Emam Ashour who netted the lone goal for Al Ahly against the run of play after 80 minutes. against the run of play
Al Hilal’s defeat marked the end of a team from the CECAFA Zone in the competition. Another Egyptian side Pyramids also sailed through to the semi-final stage on a 4-3 goal aggregate.
Former champions Mamelodi Sundowns also made it through, while Orlando Pirates who carry a 1-0 advantage against MC Alger are yet to play the second leg.
The Uganda Cubs will wait to tussle it out for a place for the FIFA U-17 World Cup via the play-offs.
Uganda’s second defeat at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Sunday night to Zambia meant the CECAFA side can only qualify through the play-off.
Going into the match Uganda needed to defeat Zambia to look a place in the quarter final and also secure direct qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. But the COSAFA team defeated Uganda 2-1 in Group A match played at the El Arbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca, Morocco.
The Junior Chipolopolos scored after 20 minutes through Kelvin Mulenga Chipelu, but Uganda equalized through defender Elvis Torach four minutes after the break.
Substitute Billy Daka made amends after 86 minutes to put Zambia ahead after his penalty had been stopped by the Ugandan Cubs goalkeeper earlier in the second half.
Brian Ssenyondo, Uganda’s coach said that they will now focus on preparing for the play-off next weekend. Uganda will face the third placed team in Group C.
In another Group A match played on Sunday, hosts Morocco stopped Tanzania 3-0. It was Tanzania’s third straight defeat in the on-going competition.
Somalis will return to action on Monday when they face reigning champions Senegal, while The Gambia take on Tunisia in the other match.
The top 10 teams at the U-17 AFCON which ends on April 19th will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.
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