Mette leads Djibouti against Somalia as 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup kicks off

French born Coach Julien Mette will make his debut in regional tournaments as he leads Djibouti in their opening 2019 CECAFA senior Challenge Cup against Somalia on Saturday. Mette who helped Djibouti overcome Eswatini to qualify for the group stage of the 2021 FIFA World Cup qualifiers says he is excited to have his team in this tournament.

“Playing in such a tournament will help my prepare my team well enough ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. We are here to improve on several technical aspects,” said Mette during an interview at the SilverSprings Hotel on Friday night.

The coach made it clear that it will be very important to kick start the tournament with a win. “It is always good to start with a win because it motivates the teams ahead of other matches,” added the coach.

But Somalia who will field some of their foreign based players will not be a side to underrate.  “We are here for serious business and determined to perform well,” said Somalia’s team manager Said Abdi Haibeh.

The Somali team will however miss the services of their skipper Ahmed Ali and other key players Abel Gigli Mohamed, Abdirizak Mohamed and Fahad Ismail who did not make the trip to Uganda.

The second Group A match will see 15 time CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup winners Uganda battle Burundi. It will be the third time the two teams face-off this year after Uganda beat Burundi twice in the 2020 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier.

Jonathan McKinstry, Uganda Cranes coach said this tournament comes at the right time because they will use it to prepare for the 2020 CHAN tournament.

On Sunday Zanzibar will open their campaign with a game against Sudan, while defending champions Kenya battle Tanzania in the second Group B match which promises to be a thriller.

The regional tournament has attracted nine teams with the best two from each group qualifying for the semi finals.