Tanzania and Uganda are the winners of the Boys and Girls categories at the CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA qualifier that climaxed on Thursday in Uganda.

The Tanzania team handled by former International Boniface Pawasa defeated Rwanda 2-0 in their last deciding match to finish ahead of Uganda on better goal difference since each collected six points.

Elick Yusuph converted a penalty in the first half, and Jabiri Farijala wrapped it up with a second half goal at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. “I am very happy that we are the

champions of the tournament. It was hard work and now we shall need to focus to preparing a team for the continental tournament,” said Pawasa

The earlier Boys match saw Burundi hold Somalia to a goalless draw.

In the Girl’s category Uganda emerged Champions with a better goal difference than Tanzania who also finished with 7 points.

Uganda humbled Rwanda 8-0 in an earlier match with Brendah Nassaka scoring four goals, while Halima Mupyanga scored a brace. Cynthia Kirenga and Lilian Nabukeera also got their names on the score sheet.

The second match saw Tanzania stop Burundi 1-0 with Helena Mtundagi scoring the lone goal. Lilian Nabukeera, Uganda’s captain thanked all her teammates for the hard work. “We are very happy to be the champions,” she added.

While the champions Tanzania and Uganda received medals and trophies at the Awards ceremony, they also picked a US$10,000 the dummy cheque of US$100,000 respectively.

Uganda’s Boys team and the Tanzania Girls team collected their medals and a dummy cheque of US$75,000 each, while Somalia and Burundi who came third in the Boys and Girl’s categories respectively also picked medals and dummy cheques of US$50,000 each.

The CAF Africa Schools Football Championship is sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation.

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.

Hosts Uganda and Tanzania are top of the Boys and Girls categories respectively on Day 1 of the CAF African Schools Football Championship.

Uganda defeated Somalia 1-0 in their opening Boys match with Nabiru Kajumba netting the lone goal on Tuesday at the St. Marys Stadium, Kitende.

They followed it up with a hard fought goalless draw against Rwanda in the second match to send them top of the table with 4 points.

Ashraf Kyakuwa, the Ugandan team captain told Cecafaonline that they are happy to lead the log on Day 1, but added that they must work hard in their remaining matches against Tanzania and Burundi. “We need to keep working hard because we have more matches to play,” added Kyakuwa.

In the other Boys matches played which all ended goalless involved Tanzania against Burundi, and Somalia against Tanzania.

In the Girls category Tanzania demolished Rwanda 5-1 to go top of the log. Helena Mtundagi netted a brace, while Bahati Steven, Elizabeth Chenge and Neema Thomas all got their names on the score sheet.

The win sent Tanzania top of the table after Uganda only managed to defeat Burundi 2-1 in the second Girls’ match played. Annastanzia Ambeiza scored a brace, and Erica Iradukunda scored the sole goal for Burundi.

Action continues on Wednesday with four matches in the Boys category and two in the Girl’s category. The Championship is played on a round robin basis. The winners in each category will bag US$100,000, the runner-up US$75,000, and the third placed US$50,000.

The third edition of the CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA Zone will take place December 8-12^th, 2024 at the St. Marys Stadium, Kitende in Uganda.

Nine teams will tussle it out in the Championship with five in the Boys category and four in the Girls category.

Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has explained that each of the categories will play the League format.

“The team with more points in each category will be the champions to represent the Zone at the CAF African Schools Football Championship Finals set to take place in 2025,” added Mossi.

Besides action on the pitch, CAF has also organized several workshops to run alongside the tournament including; Coaching Programme, Young Referees Programme, Young Reporters Programme, and Safeguarding.

The CAF African Schools Football Championship which enters it’s third edition is supported by the Motsepe Foundation with partnership between CAF, African Governments, Member Associations and Schools.

CAF African Schools Football Championship | CECAFA Qualifiers:

BOYS

Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Somalia

GIRLS

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi