Teams from the CECAFA Zone Tanzania, Sudan and Rwanda have registered vital wins in the on-going FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

The Taifa Stars shocked hosts Zambia 1-0 in a Group E match played in Ndola on Tuesday evening, while Rwanda also defeated Lesotho 1-0 in a Group C match played in Durban, South Africa.

Sudan were the biggest winners after humbling South Sudan 3-0 in the newly refurbished Juba National Stadium.

Waziri Shentembo netted the lone goal for Tanzania after only 5 minutes. The Zambian team tried to fight back and attacked in numbers, but the Taifa Stars defenders stood firm. The win sends Tanzania to second place with 6 points from three matches played, while Morocco who have played two matches are still top with the same number of points and better goal difference.

Rwanda who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Benin last week were a much more hungry side for a win against Lesotho today. After creating several chances, Jojea Kwizera scored after 45 minutes, and the match ended with no more goals.

After four matches played Rwanda move top of Group C with 7 points and a better goal difference than South Africa who beat Zimbabwe 3-1 and also moved to 7 points.

At the Juba National Stadium in a match watched by the South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and FIFA President Gianni Infantino among others, the visitors won 3-0. Safour Waliedin gave Sudan the lead going into the interval, while Eltayeb Yasir and Yousif Mohamed added two more goals in the second half.

The win sends Sudan top of Group B with 10 points from 4 matches played, while 2019 African champions Senegal are second on 8 points, and DR Congo 8 points in third place.

Kenya and Ivory Coast played out to a goalless draw in a Group F match played in Lilongwe, Malawi. Burundi later defeated Seychelles 3-1 to move to second place in Group F with 7 points, while Ivory Coast top with 10 points.

Bienvenue Kanakimana netted a brace, while Sudi Abdallah scored the other goal for Burundi in a match played in Berkane, Morocco. Lorenzo Hoareau scored the consolation goal for Seychelles.

Collected results for CECAFA teams on June 10-11th

Botswana 3 Somalia 1

Uganda 1 Algeria 2

South Sudan 0 Sudan 3

Zambia 0 Tanzania 1

Kenya 0 Ivory Coast 0

Seychelles 1 Burundi 3

The national teams of Somalia and Uganda have suffered defeats in their Group G matches played on Monday in the on-going FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Somalia took to the field first against Botswana, losing 3-1 in a match played in Maputo, Mozambique.

Thabang Sesinyi gave Botswana the lead after 10 minutes with a well timed header. In the second half Moshe Gaolaolwe’s goal and a penalty converted by Kabelo Seakanyeng were enough to ensure Botswana collect maximum points. Sak Hassan scored the lone goal for Somalia.

In the second Group G match, hosts Uganda suffered a 2-1 defeat to Algeria in a match played at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

Egyptian based professional who features for Zamalek FC, Travis Mutyaba gave Uganda the lead after 10 minutes. But the Desert Foxes fough back strongly to score two second half goals through Hossem Aouar and Said Benrahma.

Before the match with Uganda, the Desert Foxes had suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Guinea, while Uganda defeated Botswana 1-0 last Friday at the same Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

The win sends Algeria to 9 points in the Group, while Botswana are second with 6 points. Uganda slipped to fifth place, while Somalia with no point are bottom of the log.

Action continues on Tuesday with six teams from the CECAFA Zone all in action. South Sudan will welcome Sudan at their newly refubished Juba National Stadium in a Group B match, while Tanzania play away to Zambia in a Group E tie in Ndola.

The Harambee Stars of Kenya will host Ivory Coast in Lilongwe, Malawi, while Rwanda play away to Lesotho in a Group C match in Durban, and Burundi battle Seychelles in a Group F match to be played in Berkane, Morocco.

Djibouti’s Shoremen of the Red Sea picked their first point on the on-going FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Ethiopia on Sunday.

After suffering defeats in their last three matches, Djibouti held Ethiopia to a 1-1 draw in a Group A match played at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida, Morocco.

Ghana born striker Gabriel Dadzie gave Djibouti the lead after 29 minutes, but Ethiopia hit back quickly to level scores 1-1.

Minyelu Wondimu Dibaba scored for Ethiopia after receiving a neat pass from Mesfin Tafesse.

After recess Ethiopia’s Walia Ibex continued to dominate the matches, but failed to find the goals and register their first win in the qualifiers. The draw leaves Djibouti bottom of the log with 1 point, whilel Ethiopia with three points are placed fifth.

On Monday another team from the CECAFA Zone Uganda Cranes will play host to 2029 AFCON winners Algeria in a Group G encounter at the refurbished Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

Coach Paul Put’s team will be hungry to pick maximum points against Algeria to go top of the Group, before Guinea face Mozambique later.

While Uganda defeated Botswana 1-0 last Friday to revive their chances of qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Algeria lost at home 2-1 to Guinea in their last match played last week.

After over four years it was a sweet return for the Uganda Cranes to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole as they tamed Botswana 1-0 in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier on Friday night.

After a goalless first half, the Botswana team returned stringing some good passes around, but the Uganda Cranes were more than hungry to collect three points in their Group G match watched by over 30,000 fans.

Shaban who had replaced Steven Mukwala capitalized on Denis Omedi’s cross to place the ball past Botswana’s goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko and send the fans into jubilation at the refurbished Stadium. Omedi had also come on for Elvis Bwomono.

After taking the lead, the Cranes pushed further ahead in search of more goals as Rogers Mato and Bobosi Byaruhanga added a spark of attack in-front. Italian based defender Elio Capradossi who was making his debut for Uganda also put up a good show.

“I am happy that the team played with a lot of confidence and scored to win the match. We need to prepare well ahead of the next match with Algeria on Monday,” said Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put.

In the other Group G match played Mozambique defeated Somalia 2-1 in a match played in Maputo. Alfons Amade and Stanley Ratifo netted first half goals for the hosts, but Somalia pulled one back after 66 minutes through Ismail Shirwa.

Uganda moved to third place in Group G with 6 points, below Algeria and Benin who also have the same number of points, but a better goal difference. Uganda will next host 2019 African champions Algeria on June 10^th, while Guinea hosts Mozambique in a match to be played in Morocco.

Two other teams from the CECAFA Zone Kenya and Burundi settled for a 1-1 draw in a Group F match played in Lilongwe, Malawi. The two teams each have 4 points each, although Kenya with a better goal difference are ahead in third place behind Gabon and Senegal.