The head coach of Kenya’s U-20 team, Rising Stars, Salim Babu has said they will have to improve in the other matches ahead at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Kenya gave a good performance, but conceded late to fall 3-2 to Morocco in a Group B match played at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday night.

“We started well by taking the lead, but again fell back and did not defend well towards the end of the match against Morocco. Ofcourse Morocco are a good side, but my boys had tried to play well, but did not keep the composure,” added the coach.

Coach Babu made it clear that they must god back to the drawing board and work hard before taking on Tunisia in the second match on May 4th. “We must improve and try to get back to get a win in our second match,” added Babu.

Against Morocco, Lawrence Ouma gave the Rising Stars the lead after 16 minutes with a well timed header after a Kevin Injehu free kick. But Morocco’s Yassir Zabiri made it 1-1 just before half time. Zabiri was on target again after the break, but Hassan Beja slotted after 71 minutes to make it two for Kenya after Aldrine Kibet had chested the ball well in the box.

Seven minutes later Kenya failed to defend well and Reda Laalaoui made it 3-2 for Morocco. The North African side missed a penalty late in the game with Kenyan goalkeeper Baron Ochieng stopping Othmane Maamma’s effort.

Kenya will return to action against Tunisia on May 4^th, while CECAFA’s second representatives Tanzania who lost their first Group A match 1-0 to South Africa will be in action against Sierra Leone on Saturday.

The four semi-finalists will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup to take place in Chile.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have organised a successful Media Officers’ Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.

Over twenty participants from 11 Member Associations in the CECAFA Zone participated in the 3-Day Workshop that concluded on Wednesday at the Swiss Lenana Mount Hotel.

Gen. Augustino Parek Maduot, the CECAFA Vice President urged all participants to take the knowledge gained and put it into action. “Let it influence your daily work. Let it raise the standards in your federations. Let it serve as an example for others. And let it be a stepping stone to even greater achievements in your careers,” added the guest of honour Maduot.

The guest of honour, also the President of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) thanked CAF for all the support. “We extend our deepest gratitude for the support and partnership that made this workshop possible. To Football Kenya Federation, we say a heartfelt thank you for hosting the Workshop,” added Maduot.

The Workshop instructed by CAF Media Manager Charlotte Pelagie Eyoum, and CAF Consultant from Tunisia, Mondher Chaouachi was filled with a lot of engagement, discussions, interactions and practical sessions at the Nyayo Stadium.

Auka Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director thanked the instructors and the participants for the three days of intense learning and exchanging ideas. “We shall give the different media officers opportunity at some of our CECAFA tournaments,” said Gecheo.

The participants thanked CECAFA and CAF for putting together the Workshop which helped them learn new aspects. “We thank CECAFA and CAF for this opportunity,” said Phidaus Nakaweesi, from Uganda. Innocent Okama, from Tanzania was also full of praise for CECAFA and CAF pointing out that he has gained a lot from the Workshop.

Participants

Mutuyima Olivier Maurice, Sonia Isaro (Rwanda), Mohamed Hassan Said (Zanzibar), Stephen Mayamba, Phidaus Nakaweesi, Abdu Wasike (Uganda), Innocent Okama (Tanzania), Adanan Mohamed Sharif, Mohammed Abdi Muudey (Somalia), Abdella Mohamedali Abdela, Danayit Tesfaezgi Kifleyesus (Eritrea), Kadra Ahmed Toube, Farhan Elmi Farah (Djibouti), Samuel Pawan, Sarah Jacob (South Sudan), Willis Otieno, Gladys Onyango, Shon Osimbo, Jeff Kinyanjui (Kenya), Patrick Harakandi, Mohoro Nadege (Burundi), Atif Ahmed Mohamed (Sudan)

Tanzania have made a losing start at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on-going in Egypt.

Coach Charles Mkwasa’s team suffered a 1-0 Group A defeat in a match played at the Suez Canal Stadium on Wednesday.

Although Tanzania created several scoring opportunities, it was Shakeel April’s first half goal that ensured South Africa worked hard to collect maximum points.

The CECAFA reigning champions Tanzania’s trio of Bakari Msimu, Ashrafu Kibeku and Said Naushad all tested South Africa’s goalkeeper.

“The team came out and played better football especially in the second half, but failed to take the chances created in-front of goal. The South African goalkeeper made saves to keep them in the game,” said Tanzania’s coach Mkwasa after the match.

CECAFA’s second team in the competition Kenya will face Morocco in their opening Group B match on Thursday.

The four semi-finalists will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup to take place in Chile.

The 3-Day CECAFA-CAF Media Officers’ Workshop has started at the Swiss Lenana Mount Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hussein Mohammed, President of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) who was the guest of honour opened the Workshop which has attracted 23 media officers from 11 Member Associations in the Zone.

“This Workshop, the first of it’s kind in the CECAFA Zone represents more than just a meeting, but a commitment to professionalism and continuous learning,” said the FKF President. He thanked CAF and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association for putting up this Workshop especially as the Zone prepares to host the CHAN tournament this year and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027,” he added.

Lux September, the Acting Director and Head of TV and Communications at CAF who addressed the Workshop online urged the participants to make use of what they will learn and practice it well when they return to their countries. “I thank the CECAFA leadership for putting this together to have this Workshop,” added September.

The Executive Director of CECAFA, Auka Gecheo thanked CAF under the leadership of Dr. Patrice Motsepe for always supporting the Zone in capacity building. He also thanked all the 11 Member Associations who managed to send participants to the Workshop.

Charlotte Pelagie Eyoum, the CAF Media Manager and CAF Consultant from Tunisia, Mondher Chaouachi are the instructors of the Workshop.

Abdella Mohamedali Abdela, a participant from the Eritrea National Football Federation (ENFF) thanked CECAFA and CAF for putting together the Workshop. “I am very happy that finally I have an opportunity like this to get better,” added Abdella. A participant from South Sudan Sarah Jacob says she is also very excited to be attending this 3-Day Workshop which will help her learn new communication aspects,” she added.

The Workshop which will climax on April 30th has attracted participants from Kenya, Rwanda, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, Burundi, Djibouti and Uganda.