The CECAFA Ordinary Assembly has approved five tournaments to be staged by the Zone in the 2025 calendar.

During the non-elective Ordinary General Assembly held at the Imperial Plaza Hotel in Juba, South Sudan on Wednesday, the delegates approved the five competitions.

Auka John Gecheo who presented the competitions report on behalf of the chairman of the Committee Isayas Jira Bosho, pointed out that the tournaments have been planned after considering the different CAF and FIFA tournaments on the International calendar.

The Zonal body agreed to have the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Competition in Kenya between May 31^st to June 7^th, while the CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge and the CECAFA Senior Men’s Challenge Cup have also been lined up.

The Dar Port Kagame Cup 2025 will be expected to take place August 31^st to September 14^th, and the CAF Women’s Champions League, CECAFA qualifiers.

However, Member Associations have been asked to apply to host any of the tournaments that have been planned to run in the 2025 calendar.

Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC have topped Group A in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Coach Fadlu Davids team silenced Algeria’s CS Constantine 2-0 in their last Group A match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Simba SC who qualified for the quarter final stage a week ago after picking a crucial 1-1 away draw against Bravos do Maquis

Scored in the second half through Kibu Denis and Leonel Ateba.

The win sent Simba SC top of Group A with 13 points, while CS Constantine finished second with 12 points.

“It was not a very easy match since we played without fans. But I thank my players for pushing hard and finding the goals in the second half,” said Simba SC coach Fadlu Davids after the match.

Simba SC together with CS Constantine join other teams that have qualified for the quarter-finals; RS Berkane (Morocco), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), USM Alger (Alger) and Zamalek (Egypt).

Last season Simba SC together with Young Africans SC reached the quarter-final stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Tanzania Premier League side Young Africans SC have failed to book a place in the quarter-final stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Young Africans SC needed nothing less than victory against MC Alger in the last group match played in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, but settled for a goalless draw.

Coach Sead Ramovic’s team revived their hopes last weekend after defeating table leaders Al Hilal (Sudan) 1-0 in an away match played in Mauritania. The draw against the Algerian side meant that they finished third in the group with 8 points.

In the second Group A match played in DR Congo, bottom placed TP Mazembe shocked Al Hilal 4-0. Jean Diouf and Ibrahim Keita gave TP Mazembe a 2-0 half time lead.

After the interval Merceil Ngimbi Vumbi increased the lead, and Suleman Shaibu converted a late penalty to make it 4-0.

Al Hilal finished top with 10 points, while MC Alger came second with 9 points and TP Mazembe bottom with 5 points.

The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 was finally held on Wednesday night at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will for the first time co-host the Championship in August this year in what promises to be a great experience.

Dr. Patrice Motsepe (CAF President)

In a recorded message, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe said, “The renovations of stadiums, training fields, infrastructure, hotels, and hospitals in the three countries reflect significant progress and motivation, evident during my tour.”

Salim Mvurya (Kenya Cabinent Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports)

“Hosting CHAN is great inspiration to our country and East Africa. I want to thank the three Presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for their commitment and agreeing to host CHAN 2024.”

“We welcome the decision by Dr. Motsepe and the CAF Executive Committee to push CHAN to August because it gives us time and opportunity as the three countries to bring out our best.”

Peter Ogwang (Uganda State Minister for Sports)

“We want to take this opportunity to thank CAF and the Executive Committee for accepting us to host the CHAN tournament. We welcome the whole of Africa and the entire world to East Africa.”

“I also request that CAF allow us to name the tournament PAMOJA African Nations Championship.”

Palamagamba John Aidan Mwaluko (Tanzania Minister of Information Culture, Arts and Sports)

“I bring you greetings from the President of the Republic of Tanzania Suluhu Hassan. This ceremony today signifies that East Africa is ready to host CHAN 2024.”

“I also request that the tournament is called the PAMOJA CHAN since the word means coming together.”

Wallace Karia (CECAFA, Tanzania Football President)

“We thank the three Presidents of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda for being able to bring CHAN 2024 to East Africa. We also thank the CAf President Dr. Patrice Motspe and his Executive for picking the PAMOJA bid.”

“Pushing the tournament to August is most welcome as the three countries will be able to prepare are even better.”

Hassim Moses Magogo (Federation of Uganda Football Association President)

“We are glad this dream of hosting CHAN is coming true since the three of us met in a restaurant some years back and decided we wanted to host CHAN. We believe in a successful CHAN and the extra six months given to have the tournament in August will help us present the best CHAN.”

Mohamed Hashim (Football Kenya Federation President)

“We are very delighted that finally the draw is taking place today and as Kenya and our other co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania we are ready to have a good CHAN event.”

“We thank the governments and CAF for all the effort they continue to put in that will make this tournament a success.”

Auka John Gecheo (CECAFA Executive Director)

“We are confident as a Zone that this CHAN tournament to be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will be a huge success. I believe pushing the tournament to August will give the three countries more time to tie-up the loose ends and host a memorable Championship.”