Tanzania’s Luqman Mbalasalu and Dawit Kasaw Yirdaw received the joint Top scorer Award at the climax of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.

The two players each finished with eight goals a piece as the tournament ended on Tuesday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Isayas Jira, the President of the Ethiopia Football Federation and CAF Exco Member awarded the two players.

The hosts who finished third also won the Fair Play Award, while Tanzania’s Haji Abdallah who also stopped two penalties in the tournament was voted Best goalkeeper.

Uganda’s captain Owen Mukisa voted Best Player of the tournament received his Award from the CECAFA Acting President and President of the Burundi Football Federation, Alexandre Muyenge.

Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, the Tanzania Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports handed of the Best Coach Award to Elieneza Nicolaus Nsangazelu.

Awards

Fair Play Award – Ethiopia

Gold Medalists – Tanzania

Silver Medalists – Uganda

Bronze Medalists – Ethiopia

Best Goalkeeper – Haji Abdallah (Tanzania)

Top Scorers – Luqman Mbalasalu (Tanzania), Dawit Kasaw Yirdaw (Ethiopia)

Best Player – Owen Mukisa (Uganda)

Best Coash – Elieneza Nicolaus Nsangazelu (Tanzania)

Tanzania are the winners of the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026.

It was sweet revenge as Tanzania defeated Uganda 3-2 in the final played on Tuesday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Last year Uganda defeated Tanzania 2-1 in the final, while this year, Coach Elieneza Nicolaus Nsanganzelu’s team stopped the Cubs 1-0 in the group stage and in the final 3-2.

Razaki Mbegelendi gave Tanzania the lead after only 6 minutes after Shakur Ngobi’s back-pass had been intercepted. Mbegelendi made no mistake shooting past Uganda’s goalkeeper Ashraf Lukyamuzi.

Thomas Ogena restored matters for Uganda making it 1-1 after 13 minutes with a close range finish past the Tanzanian goalkeeper Haji Abdallah.

Another defensive mix-up gave Tanzania space to score the second goal after 30 minutes with Mbegelendi pouncing and finishing in style. At the stroke of half time Luqman Mbalasalu netted Tanzania’s third goal.

After the interval Uganda tries to change their style of play and attacked in numbers. Fahad Ismail missed a penalty for Uganda after 56 minutes. Tanzania’s goalkeeper Abdallah stopped the penalty.

The two sides continued to attack on either side and Uganda netted their second goal through Brian Olwa in added time. It was all celebration after the final whistle as the Tanzanian team and the technical bench celebrated on the pitch.

“This is a very sweet win and the players have worked hard to finish the tournament with six wins,” said Tanzania’s coach Elieneza Nicolaus Nsanganzelu after the match

In the earlier play-off match hosts Ethiopia defeated Kenya 3-0 to book a place in the AFCON U-17 tournament next year to be held in Moroco. Dawit Kassaw, Biyam Abrha and Biruk Eyilachew scored for the hosts.

The final was graced by the Acting CECAFA President, Alenxandre Muyenge, also President of the Burundi Football Federation, Wallace Karia (Tanzania Football Federation President and CAF Exco Member), Isayas Jira (Ethiopia Football Federation President and CAF Exco-Member), Issa Magoola (Executive Member of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations), the Tanzania Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, and the CECAFA Interim Executive Officer Jean Sseninde.

The CECAFA Zonal final of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers takes place on Tuesday at the Abebe Bikila, Ethiopia.

It will be a repeat of the 2024 final when the Zonal giants Uganda and Tanzania face-off to decide which team walks away with the trophy and gold medals.

Last year Uganda stopped Tanzania 2-1 in the final played in Kampala.

To reach the final Tanzania, the only team to have won all five matches in the tournament defeated Kenya 2-1, while Uganda Cubs saw off hosts Ethiopia 3-0 in the second semi final tie.

Elieneza Nicolaus Nsangazelu, Tanzania’s head coach has made it clear that facing Uganda will not be an easy task although they managed to beat them 1-0 in the group stages.

“Uganda is a good side and beating a team twice in one tournament is always not an easy task. But the players are determined to stick to our system of play and give their best to win and take the trophy home,” added Nsangazelu.

The Uganda Cubs coach Kingston Laryea made it clear that since the first mission of qualifying for the AFCON U-17 had been achieved, now the next target was to retain the trophy.

“We respect Tanzania as a team because they are one o the best teams in this tournament, but my team is well prepared to make sure we dominate play and win the match,” added the former Ghanian International.

Luqman Ally Mbalasalu, the leading scorer in the tournament with eight goals will lead the Tanzanian hunt for goals, while Thomas Ogema, who has netted four goals and midfielder Henry Muhoozi will lead the Uganda Cubs.

But before the final, hosts Ethiopia will face Kenya in a match which will decide which team takes the third spot to qualify for the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026.

The Zonal qualifiers attracted ten teams; Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Burundi and Djibouti.

Leading scorers

Luqman Ally Mbalasalu (Tanzania) – 7 goals

Dawit Kasaw Yirdaw (Ethiopia) – 7 goals

Thomas Ogema (Uganda) – 4 goals

Dismas Shida Athanasi (Tanzania) – 4 goals

Soann Shabani (Tanzania) – 4 goals

Sadam Hussen Hamis (Tanzania) – 4 goals

The Uganda Cubs have defeated hosts Ethiopia 3-0 to qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026.

Uganda became the second team to qualify for the AFCON U-17 showpiece after Tanzania had qualified earlier after stopping Kenya 3-1 in the first semi-final played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium.

The first half of the match was a tense affair with the two teams defending well and not giving out many scoring opportunities.

After recess Ethiopia thought they had scored, but there was an offside call.

In the 50^th minute Lorian Lwesibawa gave Uganda the lead when his corner kick was deflected by Ethiopia’s goalkeeper Temesgen Kebede Tadesse for the 2024 champions to take the lead.

Two minutes later a blunder by Ethiopia’s defender Efison Kidane Kindo gave Uganda’s skipper Owen Mukisa chance to drive the ball straight into the net to make it 2-0.

The hosts tried to re-orgnise and push forward, but the Ugandan side stood tall and dominated play in the midfield and defence. After 78 minutes the Ethiopian goalkeeper again failed to block a free-kick by Lorian Lwesibawa and the ball settled in the net for Uganda to increase their lead to 3-0.

Later Uganda’s coach Kingston Laryea made some changes bringing in fresh legs as the hosts got frustrated.

Kingston Laryea, the Uganda Cubs coach credited his team for working hard to win against a strong side. “The boys worked hard and now we turn focus to the final against Tanzania on Tuesday, “ added Laryea.

The play-off match between Kenya and Ethiopia to determine who takes the third slot for the AFCON U-17 next year will be the first match to be played on Tuesday, and the between Tanzania and Uganda will follow.