The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-20 CECAFA qualifiers will kick-off with a Group A match between Sudan and Djibouti on October 6^th at the Maj. Gen Isamuhyo Stadium in Tanzania.

Nine teams will participate in the tournament slated to take place from October 6-20^th in Dar es Salaam,

According to the fixture the hosts Tanzania will battle Kenya in a second Group A match to be played on Day 1 at the same Maj. Isamuhyo Stadium.

The 2022 runners-up South Sudan will open their Group B campaign against Burundi, while reigning champions Uganda face Ethiopia in matches to be played at the KMC Stadium on October 7^th. Tanzania will return to action on October 8^th against Djibouti, the same day Sudan face Rwanda.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager made it clear that the group matches will climax on October 15^th, and the semi-finals take centre stage three days after. The best two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-final stage, and the finalists will automatically qualify to represent CECAFA at the AFCON U-20 to take place next year.

“We are very confident that these qualifiers will be more competitive compared to the last time they were hosted in Sudan. Member Associations have continued to work hard to develop their junior teams in the Zone,” explained Mossi.

Group A: Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti, Kenya

Group B: Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia

Tanzania have been drawn to face Kenya in the qualifiers of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-20 CECAFA qualifiers.

In the draw conducted by the CECAFA Competitions Manager, Yusuf Mossi at the Azam TV studio in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Thursday, the hosts have been placed alongside Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti and Kenya.

Uganda who won the trophy in 2022 in Khartoum have been placed in Group B alongside South Sudan, Burundi and Ethiopia.

The Zonal qualifiers will be played October 6-20th, 2024 in three venues, Azam Complex, KMC Stadium and the Major General Isamuhyo Stadium, all Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Interestingly Uganda and South Sudan who reached the last final and represented the Zone at continental level have been placed in the same group.

Mossi explained that the best two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the semi-finals. The finalists will qualify to represent CECAFA at the AFCON U-20 to take place next year.

“We hope to have a very competitive and exciting tournament in Tanzania,” added Mossi.

Group A: Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti, Kenya

Group B: Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia

_{The Uganda Hippos have retained the CECAFA U-20 men’s title.}

_{Coach Jackson Mayanja’s team came from a goal down to stop South Sudan 2-1 in the final of the regional tournament played on Friday night at the Al Hilal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudan.}

_{Going into the final the two teams had already booked slots for the U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 which will take place in Egypt.}

_{The South Sudan team cheered on by over 1000 fans started on a high with several attacks before they took the lead after 15 minutes. Felix Agumemboki Abishai tapped in from close range giving Uganda’s goalkeeper Abdu Magada no chance.}

_{But the Hippos stepped up their game after conceding and piled pressure on the South Sudan defending line. Issa Bugembe leveled matters after 23 minutes with a low drive.}

_{Uganda continued to push forward, but the South Sudan team was up to the task defending in numbers and trying to push forward on the break.}

_{After recess midfielder Titus Ssematimba put Uganda ahead after 61 minutes with a rebound after the South Sudan defenders failed to clear their lines. At the stroke of full South Sudan’s goalscorer Abishai had a clear chance at goal, but shot straight to the Uganda Hippos goalkeeper.}

_{“I am happy to lead the team to U-20 AFCON and also to retain the title. It has been really hard work in the few weeks I have been with this team,” said a happy Uganda Hippos coach Mayanja after the match.}

_{Charles John Gwit Uok, the South Sudan coach said his players had given their best against a good Ugandan team. “We played well and got punished for some few mistakes,” added the coach.}

_{In an earlier match hosts Sudan beat Ethiopia 2-1 to finish third. During the Awards, South Sudan’s goalkeeper Godwin Sabio was voted Player of the tournament, while Burundi’s Arthir Nibakora was top scorer with three goals.}

_{Uganda’s Abdu Magada was voted best goalkeeper, while his team also bagged the Fair Play Award.}

_{The U-20 AFCON qualifiers for the CECAFA region attracted seven teams; Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan, Burundi, Djibouti and Tanzania.}

_{Reigning champions Uganda will face a tough test when they battle South Sudan in the final of the U-20 CECAFA final at the Al Hilal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudan this evening.}

_{But before the final Ethiopia will face hosts Sudan to decide who finishes third in this tournament which is also an U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 qualifier for the CECAFA Zone.}

_{Jackson Mayanja, the Uganda Hippos coach told Cecafaonlie that although they have accomplished the first task of qualifying for the U-20 AFCON, his team is also determined to retain the title. “ We know playing in a final is always different because there is a lot at stake and South Sudan is a team with a lot of determination,” he added.}

_{Mayanja says although the South Sudan team is very defensive, he has mapped out a way that will unlock them. “But we also need to be cautious in defending. My players know that as a coach my target is to get them qualify for the U-20 World Cup,” added Mayanja.}

_{Charles John Gwit Uok, the South Sudan head coach has also made it clear that they are hungry to win the title.}

_{“We know Uganda is a strong team, but we are determined to go all out and play a good game to be able to get a good result,” he added.}

_{To reach the final South Sudan ejected the Ethiopia 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes, while Uganda stopped hosts Sudan 2-0. While Uganda lost to Ethiopia 1-0 in the group stage, South Sudan go into the final as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.}