The Somalia team has revived their title hopes in the Boys category at the on-going Zonal CAF African Schools Football Championship in Uganda.

After kick starting their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Uganda and a draw against Tanzania on Tuesday, the Somalia team defeated Rwanda 2-1 in a tough match played today at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

Zakariya Osman gave the Somalia team the lead, and Olivier Nshimiyimana leveled matters. But the Somalia team did not give up and piled lots of pressure to earn a penalty that skipper Bashir Hassan converted.

The win takes Somalia to second place with 4 points, behind Uganda (6 points) who only managed goalless draws against Tanzania and Burundi in matches played on Wednesday.

“We are hungry and will be determined to beat Burundi on Thursday so that we win the Cup,” said Somalia’s Captain Bashir Hassan. The two matches in the Boys category between Somalia and Burundi, and Tanzania against Rwanda will decide which team wins the Cup. Uganda who top the log have played all their 4 matches and can only keep their fingers crossed.

In the Girls category Uganda and Tanzania settled for a goalless draw, while Burundi humbled Rwanda 3-0. Erica Iradukunda netted a brace, while Emelyne Shurwenylmana Emelyne was also on target for the third placed Burundi team that has collected 3 points. Tanzania and Uganda each have 4 points going into the final day on Thursday.

Rwanda will face Uganda, while table leaders Tanzania battle Burundi in the final Girls’ matches to be played on Thursday.

The winners in each category will qualify to represent the Zone at the continental Championship next year. The winner will also bag US$100,000, the runner-up US$75,000, and the third placed US$50,000. The Championship is also supported by the Motsepe Foundation.

_{Fountain Gate Dodoma Secondary School’s Zainabu Dotto Karuka and Kabe Buzuna Biruk (Geda Robel, Ethiopia) were voted best players at the just concluded CAF African Schools Championship for the CECAFA Zone.}

_{Tanzania’s Fountain Gate Dodoma and Royal Giant High School emerged champions in the girls and boys category respectively when the Championship climaxed on Sunday at the Azam Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.}

_{Fountain Gate Dodoma dominated in the Awards for girls with Karuka taking the best  player’s Award, Allic Nelson Nechemia taking the best goalkeeper’s gong, while Winifrida Hubert Gerald was the top scorer with six goals.}

_{“This is a dream come true for me. It is a good feeling to score many goals and help Fountain Gate School win the title,” said the girls top scorer Winfrida Hubert Gerald after the tournament.}

_{Karuka, the best player in the girls category thanked CAF for starting this tournament for schools. “This is a very good stage for us to show our talent. I am happy that we shall represent our School and Tanzania in the major tournament,” added Karuka.}

_{In the boys category another (Geda Robel, Ethiopia) player Dawit Biruk Bekel was voted best goalkeeper, while Libya Primary School (South Sudan) player Ajo Minari Alex Lomoro picked the top scorer’s Award with 7 goals.}

_{Lomoro was also excited about winning the top scorer’s Award and thanked CAF and CECAFA for organizing the Championship. “This tournament has motivated me to keep working hard,” added Libya Primary School’s Lomoro.}

_{Djibouti’s CEM Boulaus and Aljeel Al Genina (Sudan) picked the Fair Play Awards for the girls and boys category respectively.}

_{Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Pindi Chana, the Tanzanian Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports was the guest of honor, CECAFA President Wallace Karia, his Vice Isayas Jira Bosho and the CAF Director of Member Associations, Sarah Mukuna presented the Awards.}

_{The top three teams in each category received medals and cash prices courtesy of the Motsepe Foundation which will go towards development in their respective schools. The winners in each category got a cash prize of US$100,000, the runners up US$75,000 and the third placed teams US$50,000.}

_Awards

_Champions

_{Boys – Royal Giant High School (Uganda)}

_{Girls – Fountain Gate Dodoma Secondary School (Tanzania)}

_{Runners up}

_{Boys – Geda Robel SS (Ethiopia)}

_{Girls – Awaro School (Ethiopia)}

_{Third place}

_{Boys – Libya Primary School (South Sudan)}

_{Girls – Amus College (Uganda)}

_{Fair play Award}

_{Boys: Aljeel Al Genina (Sudan)}

_{Girls: CEM Boulaus (Djibouti).}

_{Best Player} Award

_{Boys – Kabe Buzuna Biruk (Geda Roble/Ethiopia)}

_{Girls – Zainabu Dotto Karuka (Fountain Gate/Tanzania)}

_{Top scorer}

_{Boys – Ajo Minari Alex Lomoro (Libya PS/South Sudan)}

_{Girls – Winifrida Hubert Gerald (Fountain Gate/Tanzania)}

_{Best goalkeeper}

_{Boys – Dawit Biruk Bekele (Geda Roble/Ethiopia)}

_{Girls – Allic Nelson Nechemia (Fountain Gate/Tanzania)}

_{Tanzania’s Fountain Gate Schools and Awaro SS from Ethiopia have stormed the semi final stage of the on-going CAF African  Football Championship CECAFA Zonal qualifiers.}

_{In their opening match played at the Azam Complex in Chamazi on Friday Fountain Gate Schools brushed aside Ecofo Ruseno (Burundi) 9-0 in a Group A match. Irene Alfred Chitanda, Faudhia Ramadhani Mawazo and Allic Nelson Neckema netted two goals ach, while Mary Orone Siyame and Felister Richard Mauki also got their names on the scoring sheet. Ayan Houssein Abdallah netted an own goal.}

_{Ecofo Ruseno suffered their second defeat 5-0 to Awaro SS from Ethiopia. With three teams in Group A the top position will be decided on Saturday when Fountain Gate Schools and Awaro SS face-off.}

_{In the Group B matches played Kiramuzi MS (Rwanda) humbled CEM Baulous (Djibouti) 5-0 with Aline Ingabire scoring all the goals. Uganda’s Amus College collected two wins 3-0 against El Hila Al Jadida (Sudan) and a hard fought 1-0 win against CEM Baulous (Djibouti).}

_{In the boys category in Group A Geda Roble SS (Ethiopia) kicked off with a 1-1 draw against E.S Sumba (Rwanda), and later the Ethiopian School sunk Benjamin Mkapa School 2-1.}

_{South Sudan’s Libya PS saw off CEM Baulous 4-1, while Uganda’s Royal Giants College defeated Benjamin Mkapa School 2-0. Two other matches were played in the boys category.}

_{Frank Anyau, the Amus College Coach said having such a tournament is good news for Africa. “This tournament was long overdue and we are happy that finally it is in place,” added Anyau.}

_{“We are very happy with the way the youngsters have played on Day 1,” said the CECAFA Competitions Director, Yusuf Mossi.}

_{Action continues on Saturday with 10 matches on card. The best two teams in each group will qualify for the semi final stage. The winners in each category will take US$100,00, while the runners up bag US$75,000 and the third placed US$50,000.}

_{Day 1 results}

_Boys

_{Group A – E.S Sumba (Burundi) 1 Geda Roble SS (Ethiopia) 1}

_{Group B – Libya PS (South Sudan) 4 CEM Baulous (Djibouti) 1}

_{Group A – Benjamin Mkapa Sch (Tanzania) 0 Royal Giant HS (Uganda) 2}

_{Group B – Ecofo Gasanda (Burundi) 1 Aljeel Al Genina (Sudan) 1}

_{Group A – Geda Roble SS (Ethiopia) 2 Benjamin Mkapa Sch (Tanzania) 1}

_{Group B – CEM Baulous (Djibouti) 0 Ecofo Gasanda (Burundi) 7}

_Girls

_{Group B – Kiramuzi MS (Rwanda) 5 CEM Baulous (Djibouti) 0}

_{Group A – Ecofo Ruseno (Burundi) 0 Fountain Gate (Tanzania) 9}

_{Group B – Amus College (Uganda) 3 El Hila Al Jadida (Sudan) 0}

_{Group A – Awaro SS (Ethiopia) 5 Ecofo Ruseno (Burundi) 0}

_{Group B – CEM Baulous 0 Amus College (Uganda) 1}

_{The CECAFA Zonal qualifiers for the African Schools Football Championship will take place at the Azam Stadium, Chamazi in Tanzania.}

_{Auka Gecheo, the Executive Director of the Council of East and central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) confirmed that the qualifiers will take place between February 17-19th, 2023 at the 10,000 seater Stadium in Mbagala.}

_{“We are busy making the final touches to ensure that the youngsters have a successful tournament at the artificial ground,” added Gecheo.}

_{He made it clear that the different School teams from around the region are excited about the tournament and cannot wait to come and showcase their talent.}

_{Apart from Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and Zanzibar, all the other CECAFA Member Associations will send teams to the tournament. Workshops for coaches, referees and young reporters will also be held during the 3-day tournament.}

_{The winners in the boys and girls category are expected to win USD 100,000, while the runners-up will take USD75,000 and bronze medalists USD 50, 000.}

_{The maiden African Schools Football Championship is slated to take place April 7-9, 2023.}