Two teams from the CECAFA Zone Rwanda and Sudan have collected wins in the group stage of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Amavubi saw off Liberia 3-1 in a Group K match played at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday evening.

Playing in-front of the Football loving President Paul Kagame, Abeddy Biramahire gave the hosts the lead after onlyt two minutes to send the fans cheering.

Joy-Lance Michels netted his first goal in national colours with a second goal after 33 minutes. But the visitors pulled one back through Sylvanus Nimely five minutes later.

Rwanda were awarded a penalty before the interval, and the FK Shabah striker Joy-Lance Micheals made no mistake from the spot. The were no goals in the second half.

In another match played on Friday, in a battle of CECAFA teams  Sudan edged Ethiopia in a Group J match played at the Juba National Stadium in South Sudan. Mohamed Mamoun Eisa netted the lone goal late in the second half.

South Sudan, Somalia and Burundi suffered away defeats in ohter matches played on Friday. South Sudan lost 2-1 to Malawi in Group B tie, while Somalia also lost 2-1 away to The Gambia. Burundi fell 1-0 to Togo in a match played at the Regue Stadium in Lome.

On Thursday Uganda Cranes picked a point away to Tunisia after a 1-1 draw in the Group H match, while Tanzania suffered a 2-0 defeat to Guinea Bissau in a Group L match played at the New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

Kenya will host Eritrea in a Group D match in Nairobi on Saturday.

Sudan are the winners of the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.

The Sudan team stunned hosts Tanzania in the final played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Thursday evening.

After an explosive 90 minutes that ended goalless, the match went to an extra 30 minutes of play.

Sudan went off the blocks first with Omer Hamd headlining home after 93 minutes.

But the Ngorongoro Boys cheered on by the home fans fought back strongly and leveled matters after 112 minutes through Abdulnassir Abdallah. In the penalty shoot-outs Sudan edged Tanzania 4-3.

It was all celebrations for the Sudan team who also qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after 13 years of waiting.

“This has been a successful mission for us and I thank my boys for the good job. We qualified for U-20 AFCON and now we have lifted the Cup,” said Sudan’s happy coach Salaheldin Ahmed Nuoreldin Ahmed.

In an earlier play-off match Uganda defeated Burundi 2-0. Derrick Ssozi and Ashraf Kyakuwa netted the goals to guide Uganda to win bronze.

The Zonal qualifiers attracted nine teams; Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Djibouti.

Mazin Fadul Albahli Taour has said winning the Best player’s Award in the Zonal AFCON U-20 qualifiers has excited him.

The Sudan player was voted Best Player of the AFCON U-20 CECAFA qualifiers which ended on September 24^th at the Unhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Mazin Fadul played a pivotal role helping Sudan edge Tanzania in penalties 4-3 in the final after the match had ended 1-1.

“This Award has really excited me and I will continue to work even harder. It is very good to see Sudan qualify for the AFCON U-20 after over ten years,” said the player.

Tanzania’s Shaban Bakari was voted Best Goalkeeper, while Burundi’s Amini Nshimirimana scooped the Top scorer’s Award after netting four goals.

While Sudan picked gold and a trophy, Tanzania settled for silver, while Uganda bagged bronze. Tanzania also scopped the Fair Play Trophy.

Wallace Karia, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President and CAF Executive Member, TFF Vice President Athumani Nyamlani, Sudan Football Association (SFA) Head of Delegation Mohamed Abdalla Magzoub and CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde graced the Awards ceremony.

Hosts Rwanda have drawn Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.

Rwanda will host the Zonal qualifier in the capital Kigali from October 10-19^th, and the best three teams will qualifier for the continental final.

The draw was conducted by the CECAFA Competitions Manager Yusuf Mossi and assisted by Tanzania’s Ladaki Chasambi (MVP at the 2018 U-17 AFCON qualifiers) at the Azam Studio in Dar es salaam on Wednesday.

Uganda have been placed in Group B together with Ethiopia and Burundi. The reigning champions Tanzania, Djibouti and Kenya are placed in Group C. The matches will be played at the Kigali Pele Stadium and the FERWAFA Technical Centre play ground.

The top teams in each Group will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage, while the best second placed team from all the three groups will also join in the semis.

The two finalists and the winner of the play-off for third place will qualify to play at the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Group A: Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan

Group B: Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi

Group C: Tanzania, Djibouti, Kenya