The CAF Africa Schools Football Championship – CECAFA qualifiers will take place December 8-12^th in Kampala, Uganda.

John Auka Gecheo, the Executive Director of the Council of Est and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has confirmed that the ASFC tournament will be held in Uganda.

Gecheo says the tournament was moved to Uganda because Eritrea which was meant to host could not go ahead and successfully host the event. “We are happy that Uganda has accepted to host the tournament for Schools,” added Gecheo.

The tournament will attract six Boys teams and five Girls teams. The best teams in each category will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the continental level.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director explained that the draw for the Boys category will be conducted on December 4th, 2023 with each Group having three teams. “The top two boys teams will play a semi and into the finals and the winner will represent the zone in the continental phase,” added Mossi. He said the Girls will play a league format with the top team qualifying for the Continental phase.

Last year Ugandan teams dominated the tournament which was held in Nairobi, Kenya. Uganda’s Boys team defeated Tanzania 4-2 in penalty shoot-outs after the match ended 1-1, while the Ugandan Girls team stopped Kenya 2-1 in the final.

The 2022 champions Somalia have been drawn to face Kenya in the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) – CECAFA qualifiers.

The tournament which will bring together eight teams will take place at the Hamz Stadium in Nakivubo and St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende in Uganda between December 14-27^th, 2024.

The draw conducted by Jean Namayega Sseninde, the CECAFA Women’s Football Development Manager saw Somalia placed in Group B alongside South Sudan, Sudan and Kenya.

Hosts Uganda were drawn in Group A where they will face Ethiopia, Tanzania and Burundi.

“We expect a very competitive tournament with the youngsters expressing themselves as much as possible,” added Sseninde.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director says all teams will have their players undergo the mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests to determine if they are eligible to play in the tournament.

The best two teams will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF U-17 AFCON tournament to take place in 2025.

In the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-17 CECAFA qualifiers held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2022, Somalia beat South Sudan 3-1 in the final.

Group A: Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi

Group B: Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya

Tanzanian side Simba SC have made a good start in Group A of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Coach Fadlu Davids’ side picked a narrow 1-0 win against the Angolan side Bravos do Maquis in a match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.

The hosts started on a high with several attacks, as the visitors tried to adapt and adjust to the game.

It was Jean Charles Ahoua who put Simba SC ahead when he converted a penalty after 27 minutes after Edmilson Paulo Generoso had handled the ball in the box.

The Ivorian made no mistake from the spot placing the ball past the Bravos do Maquis goalkeeper.

Simba SC continued to push forward with Ugandan international Steven Mukwala having many attempts at goal.

After recess the visitors were awarded a penalty taken by Emmanuel Edmond which the Simba SC goalkeeper Moussa Camara saved after 48 minutes.

Bravos do Maquis again had Jó Paciência and Macaiabo come close to scoring, but his effort narrowly missed the target.

Simba’s Joshua Mutale also hit the post in the 66th minute, coming agonizingly close to doubling the lead.

The Angolan team continued to push forward in search of an equalizer, but the defending line of experienced Shomari Kapombe and Mohamed Hussein stood firm.

“We are happy that we have picked maximum points in this tough first match of the group stage. I want to thank the fans for all the support,” said Simba SC’s coach after the match.

In the second Group A match played later visiting CS Constantine (Algeria) defeated Tunisia’s Sfaxien 1-0.

Tanzanian Premier League side, Simba SC will host Bravos do Maquis in the first Group A match of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam.

Under the watchful eyes of head coach Fadlu Davids, Simba SC will be hoping to make a good start in the group stages against the Angolan side.

“We need to be very cautious and utilize the opportunities we create in-front of goal, but also defend well,” said Simba SC’s coach Davids.

Simba SC who are currently top of the Tanzania Premier League will hope that the likes of Prosper Denis Kibu, Leonel Ateba and Edwin Balwa who scored in the second round against Al Ahli Tripoli find their scoring touch again.

The Bravos do Maquis team which jetted in this evening in Dar es Salaam on a chartered flight will be led in search of goals by Francisco Mataco, Tiago Fota and Luismanico Gonclaves.

While Simba Sc started their campaign in the second round ejecting Al Ahli Tripoli from Libya, Bravos do Maquis eliminated Coastal Union FC (Tanzania) in the first round, and saw-off Saint Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) in the second round.

Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien will also host CS Constantine (Algeria) in the other Group A match to be played on Wednesday.