The opening match of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers will see Uganda face Djibouti on September 14^th in a Group B match in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

All matches will be played at the newly renovated Uhuru Stadium.

Nine teams will tussle it out to determine the best two that will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Manager of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) told Cecafaonline that they expect a very competitive tournament because most teams started early preparations.

“We had a successful draw held in Rwanda on August 31st and three teams are placed in each of the three groups. The top teams in each of the groups, together with the best second placed team from any of the three groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage,” explained Mossi.

Tanzania, the reigning U-20 champions in the Zone are placed in Group A alongside Ethiopia and Rwanda, while Group B has Uganda, Sudan and Djibouti. South Sudan, Kenya and Burundi are placed in Group C.

Day 1 will also see South Sudan face Burundi in a Group C tie, while hosts Tanzania will play the last match of the day against Rwanda.

On September 17^th there matches will be played with Rwanda taking on Ethiopia, Djibouti facing Sudan, and Burundi battling Kenya. The last group matches will be played on September 19^th with Kenya playing South Sudan, Sudan lining up against Uganda, and Ethiopia battling Tanzania.

The semi-final matches will be played September 22^nd with Group B winners facing the best second placed team, and Group A winners taking on Group C winners. The play-off and final will take center stage on September 24^th.

Sudan top sides Al Hilal SC and Al Merrikh SC have kick started their 2026/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaigns with wins in the first leg first preliminary round.

Al Hilal SC, quarter finalists last season collected a 2-0 win away to Burundi’s Aigle Noir at the national Stadium in Bujumbura.

Yasser Al Shahrani and Salim Adams scored in each half to ensure the Sudan team take the advantage back to Kigali where the return leg will be played next weekend.

Another Sudan side Al Merrikh SC also defeated Power Dynamos FC (Zambia) 1-0 in the first leg played on Saturday at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda. Bashir Bangoura converted a penalty after 39 minutes for the only goal of the match.

In other matches played on Saturday, South Sudan Premier League reigning champions El Merriekh SC Bentiu defeated Heegan FC (Somalia) 1-0 wit Tot Maet scoring the lone goal.

Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna FC collected an away goalless draw away to Aigions FC N’Djamena of Chad, while Uganda’s Vipers SC were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania). Tanzania Premier League giants Young Africans SC also picked a 1-1 draw away to Gaborone United in Botswana.

On Friday Zanzibar’s KVZ FC suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Al Swehly SC in Libya, while AS Du Port from Djibouti also lost 2-1 to Zamalek in a match played in Cairo.

Action continues on Sunday with Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC hosting Pyramids FC (Egypt), while Tanzania’s Simba SC also play away to Mighty Wanderers FC in Malawi.

Collected CAF Champions League results for CECAFA teams

Al Swehly 1 KVZ FC 0

AS Du Port 1 Zamalek 2

Aigle Noir 0 Al Hilal SC 2

El Merreikh SC Bentiu 1 Heegan FC 0

Vipers SC 1 FC Nouadhibou 1

Al Merriekh SC 1 Power Dynamos 0

Aigions FC N’Djamena 0 Sidama Bunna FC 0

Gaborone United 1 Young Africans 1

Tanzania’s Debora Salala and Vincent Kizza Mawanda have been voted the best players in the just concluded CAF African Schools Football Zonal qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.

Salala was voted best Girls players after playing a pivotal role in helping here team retain the trophy, while Mawanda was also outstanding for Uganda in the Boys category.

During the Awards ceremony at the climax of the tournament at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday, the duo received their separate Awards courtesy of CAF and sponsors TotalEnergies  

Tanzania’s Rukia Seleman and Uganda’s Stuart Mukasa also scooped the Best goalkeeper’s Awards in the Girls and Boys categories respectively.

Kenya’s Abigael Cheruto who netted nine goals picked the Top scorer’s Award for the Girls category, and Uganda’s Kennedy Okwi was the top scorer for the Boys category. Uganda and Burundi scooped the Fairplay Award for the Girls and Boys categories respectively.

The Awards Ceremony was graced by the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) 2nd Vice President Richard Mugisha, Uganda Football Federation (FUFA) 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha, CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde and a representative from the Sports Ministry in Rwanda, Fabrice Uwayo among others.

Uganda and Tanzania have emerged winners of the CAF African Schools Football CECAFA qualifiers 2026.

It was a repeat of the 2025 edition as Uganda won the Boys category and Tanzania lifted the Girls category silverware.

The Ugandan team defeated a hard fighting Rwanda side 1-0 in the Boys final, while Tanzania saw off Kenya 3-0 in the Girls final all played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday.

Kennedy Okwi netted the lone goal for Uganda after 39 minutes to silence the home side.

“I am very happy that my team has worked hard won four matches and drew once in all the matches we played in the tournament,” said a happy coach of Uganda’s team Richard Malinga, a former Ugandan International.

In the earlier Girls final Salah Msagala, Eva Maiope and Anna Pascal scored to ensure Tanzania saw off Kenya and retain their title.

In the Play-off matches to decide which teams finish third,  Uganda defeated Rwanda 2-0 in the Girls category, while Tanzania stopped South Sudan 2-0 in the Boys category.

Besides the medals the winners in each category received cheques worth US$100,00, runners-up US$75,000 and third placed US$50,000. The cash prizes contributed by the Motespe Foundation is earmarked for development purposes in the different schools.

The Awards Ceremony was graced by the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) 2^nd Vice President Richard Mugisha, Uganda Football Federation (FUFA) 1^st Vice President Justus Mugisha, CECAFa Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde and a representative from the Sports Ministry in Rwanda, Fabrice Uwayo among others.