NEWS
Rwanda to face DR Congo in FIFA U-17 Women World Cup qualifiers
Four teams from the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) have been drawn in the first round of the FIFA U-17 Women World Cup India 2022 qualifiers.
Rwanda have been drawn to face the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea will battle South Sudan, While Kenya take on the Equatorial Guinea. The first round to be played among ten teams will be played between January 13-29th.
The draws for the FIFA U-17 Women World Cup India 2022 for Africa were conducted this afternoon in Cairo, Egypt at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). CAF Director of competitions Khaled Nassar conducted the draw, assisted by Egyptian footballer Nadine Ghazy.
A total of 29 teams entered the qualifiers to battle for the three slots for Africa.
The second round will see Djibouti take on Burundi, Tanzania face Botswana, while Uganda battle Ethiopia. The winner between Eritrea and South Sudan will face Cameroon in the second round, while victory for Kenya against Equatorial Guinea in the first round will see them take on South Africa in round 2 .
The winner between DR Congo and Rwanda will face Nigeria in round two. According to CAF four rounds will be played to determine which three teams qualify to represent Africa.
The FIFA U-17 Women World Cup India was originally scheduled to be held in India between in November 2020. But because of the challenges of COVID-19 was postponed, before being cancelled. Instead, FIFA selected India as hosts of the next edition of the tournament in 2022.
First Round
M1 – Eritrea v South Sudan
M2 – Equatorial Guinea v Kenya
M3 – DR Congo v Rwanda
M4 – Senegal v Sierra Leone
M5 – Benin v Mauritania
Second Round
S1 – Winner M1 v Cameroon
S2 – Zambia v Namibia
S3 – Djibouti v Burundi
S4 – Tanzania v Botswana
S5 – Winner M2 v South Africa
S6 – Uganda v Ethiopia
S7 – Egypt v Guinea Bissau
S8 – Nigeria v Winner M 3
S9 – Liberia v Guinea
S10 – Winner M 4 v Ghana
S11 – Niger v Sao Tome
S12 – Winner M 5 v Morocco
Third Round
T1 – Winner S1 v Winner S2
T2 – Winner S3 v Winner S4
T3 – Winner S5 v Winner S6
T4 – Winner S7 v Winner S8
T5 – Winner S9 v Winner S10
T6 – Winner S11 v Winner S12
Fourth Round
Winner T1 v Winner T2
Winner T3 v Winner T4
Winner T5 v Winner T6
Two member Associations of Rwanda and Tanzania will host some of the six CECAFA competitions planned for the 2026 season.
Jean Sseninde, the CECAFA Interim Executive Director on Tuesday announced the Member Associations that won hosting rights for the various tournaments.
Tanzania will host the season opening CECAFA U-17 Girls Championship May 30th to June 14th, 2026. Tanzania will also host the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 – CECAFA qualifiers to run August 22nd to September 6th.
Rwanda who last hosted a CECAFA competition five years ago will start by hosting the clubs tournament, the CECAFA Kagame Cup from July 18th to August 9th. The club tournament will also help teams in the Zone prepare ahead of the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA qualifiers, CAF Women’s Champions League – CECAFA qualifiers, and the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) – CECAFA qualifiers will all be hosted by Rwanda.
“We are very excited and thank all the different Member Associations who applied to host the different CECAFA competitions,” says Sseninde.
CECAFA are also engaging sponsors and partners to be able to secure funds to be able to include the CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship and the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in the 2026 calendar.
CECAFA 2026 competitions
1 CECAFA U-17 Girls Championship May 30 – June 14
2 CECAFA Kagame Cup July 18 – August 9
3 CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA Qualifiers July 22 – 25
4 AF Women’s Champions League – CECAFA Qualifiers August 22 – September 6
5 U-20 AFCON – CECAFA Qualifiers September 12 – 27
6 U-17 AFCON – CECAFA Qualifiers October 10-25
Not included yet
CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship July
CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup
Sudan Premier League giants Al Hilal SC have traveled to Morocco ahead of their first leg tie against RS Berkane in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions league.
Coach Laurentiu Reghecampf’s team traveled on Thursday ahead of the match at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane on March 14th.
“We are determined to try and get a good result I this first leg and it explains why we have also made an early trip,” says the Al Hilal coach.
Although Reghecampf considers it a very tough and tactical encounter, he is optimistic they have what it takes to register good results in the two legs. “We need to be at our best to defend and attack as a team,” he added.
To reach the quarter final stage Al Hilal SC topped Group C with 11 points after registering three wins, two draws and one defeat. RS Berkane came second in Group A with 10 points behind reigning champions Pyramids.
Al Hilal SC will host RS Berkane in the return leg on March 22nd at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
Al Hilal SC are currently to pf the table in the Rwanda Premier League. They opted to play in the Rwanda Premier League because of the political instability back in Sudan.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cleared the Dire Dawa Stadium to host the return leg of the preliminary round of the AFCON 2027 qualifier between Ethiopia and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Bahiru Tilahun, the Secretary General of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) says the match will be played on March 31st.
“The qualifier second leg against São Tomé and Príncipe will be played at Dire Dawa Stadium on March 31, 2026 after a successful CAF inspection,” said Tilahun.
Eritrea who also return to the AFCON qualifiers after some years will take on Eswatini, while Burundi face Chad, Somalia battle Mauritius, and South Sudan tussle it out against Djibouti.
The six winners of the preliminary round ties over two legs will advance to join the other 42 CAF Member Associations in the group stage of the qualifiers.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will host the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.
Preliminary round fixture
Djibouti vs South Sudan
Chad vs Burundi
Somalia vs Mauritius
Seychelles vs Lesotho
Eritrea vs Eswatini
Sao Tome & Principe vs Ethiopia
The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam congratulated Gianni Infantino upon making 10 years as President of FIFA.
In his message Andemariam, also President of the Eritrea National Football Federation (ENFF) credited Infantino for playing a pivotal role in developing Football further since he became President 10 years ago.
“On the occasion of your 10th anniversary as President of FIFA, please accept my heartfelt congratulations and deepest appreciation for a decade of visionary leadership and transformative progress,” said Andemariam.
The CECAFA President said over the past ten years, Infantino’s unwavering commitment to global football development has left an indelible mark on the beautiful game. “Under your stewardship, FIFA has expanded its reach, modernized its governance, and championed initiatives that have empowered football communities across all continents-from growing the Women’s World Cup to advancing youth development and infrastructure in emerging football nations,” he added.
While thanking Infantino for his passionate service to the world’s most beloved sport, Andermariam also reminded the FIFA President that his leadership has inspired a new era for football-one defined by unity, opportunity, and boundless potential.
Infantino was first elected to the FIFA presidency on February 26th, 2016. He was re-elected on June 5th, 2019 and again on March 16th, 2023.
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