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Uganda dominates CECAFA tournaments in 2019
The Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) completed the 2019 season on a high with six tournaments. Uganda who are best ranked by FIFA in the region had their teams dominate most of the tournaments winning four out of the six.
The season started with the CECAFA Kagame Club Championships in July in Kigali, Rwanda where Uganda Premier League giants KCCA FC won the trophy.
Handled by coach Mike Hillary Mutebi, KCCA FC stopped Azam FC 1-0 in the final to emerge champions. The tournament also had guest sides Green Eagles FC from Zambia and DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union.
For the first time after about 10-years action shifted to Asmara, Eritrea where the inaugural CECAFA U-15 Boys Challenge Cup took centre stage.
Apart from Djibouti and Zanzibar that did not enter teams, the tournament was well attended by the locals in Asmara where Uganda whitewashed Kenya 4-0 in the final to lift the title.
Abraham Esayas, President of the Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) said it was a good step for international football to return to Eritrea. “We are back to hosting CECAFA tournaments and we shall make sure we always try to host tournaments more frequently so that our players can get more exposure,” added Esayas.
In September through to early October Uganda hosted the inaugural CECAFA U-20 Challenge Cup at the FUFA Technical center in Njeru. The Tanzania team led by the new rising star Kelvin Pius John were dominant from the start of the tournament as they came out unbeaten.
Tanzania stopped Kenya 1-0 in the final, with Kelvin Pius John coming out top scorer and best player of the tournament. Eritrea scooped bronze after defeating Burundi 1-0 in the play-off.
In November Tanzania hosted a successful CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge Cup played at the Azam Complex. Kenya Starlets shocked defending champions Tanzania Kilimanjaro Queens 2-0 in the final with Jentrix Shikangwa coming off the bench to score a brace. Uganda Crested Cranes finished in third place.
Later in November through to December Uganda hosted the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup and the inaugural CECAFA U-15 Girls Challenge Cup.
In the Girls competition that attracted six teams and played on a round robin basis Uganda won all her matches and only drew with Tanzania who finished second. Doris Petra, a member of the Kenya FA executive and was a member of the out-going CECAFA executive said it was a good start to have the Girls have a competitive tournament in the region.
“This is a very good move by members in the region because we such a tournament we are keeping the girls busy and getting more competitive games under their belts which will in turn help them be ready to compete well with other regions,” added Petra.
Uganda Cranes also won their 15th CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup stopping Eritrea 3-0 in the final played at the StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo.
It was competitive tournament with some shocking results as Eritrea humbled defending champions 4-0 at the semi final stage and Uganda ejected Tanzania 1-0 at the semi too.
Nicholas Musonye, the CECAFA Secretary General thanked all the CECAFA members for being active through out the season. “It is only by having competitions that football in the region will steadily grow. We need our players to keep playing in tournaments to be able to match other region,” added Musonye.
CECAFA will for the first time have nine tournaments spread out within the 2020 season.
Experienced Football administrator Souleiman Hassan Waberi has been re-elected President of the Djibouti Football Federation (DFF).
Waberi returned un-opposed for another four year-term in office during the General Assembly held at the National Technical Centre in Djibouti on Saturday.
“I am happy and glad that I have been re-elected to lead Football in Djibouti. I thank all the voters for having confidence in me,” said a happy Waberi.
“I and my committee can’t do anything without you stakeholders. We succeeded 98% of the development programs I pledged in front of you four years ago. Once again I count on you and I want you to work harder than you have been working with us in the past and surely we can reach a higher level in football,” said Waberi.
He also thanked the Minister for youth and sport, Hassan Mohamed Kamil for his long-standing contribution to football in the country. “On behalf of Djiboutian football family, I am very grateful to the President of the Republic His Excellency Ismael Omar Guelleh for his constant commitment to youth and sport and football in particular,” he added.
Waberi who is also the third Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in March 2025 will be vying for the FIFA Council seat.
Each team will be allowed to field three over age players at the U-23 CECAFA Challenge Cup.
The regional tournament will be played in Bahir Dar between July 3-18th.
According to the rules and regulations of the tournament, the competition is limited to players 23 years old or young and each team will be allowed three over age players.
CECAFA has stated that all players of the teams must have been born on or after 1st, January, 1998 and the lower limit must be at least 18 years by the end of the calendar year in which the competition is played.
Incase a member association has fielded more than three over age players, that player shall be disqualified and nor replaced, while the team could face disqualification, a ban or asked to pay a fine.
The U-23 team of the Democratic Republic of Congo team will play in the tournament as a guest side.
CECAFA members agreed in March this year before the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) held in Morocco that the Challenge Cup in 2021 will be played by the U-23 teams. Each member Association is however expected to contribute US$20,000 for their team to participate.
South Sudan head coach Ashu Cyprian Besong has dropped striker Tito Okello Odong from the squad traveling to face Jordan in the preliminary round of the FIFA Arab Cup.
The Bright Star will face Jordan on June 21st at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar.
Okello who features for Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia FC netted the lone goal when the Bright Star beat Uganda 1-0 in the Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier last year.
The striker who ditched Uganda to play for South Sudan because he was not being considered for the national team was among the players dropped before the team leaves on Friday. The other players dropped include; Lual Daniel Gumnok, Wani Ivan Marcello, Jackson Morgan Obede and goalkeeper Mawien Khon Arop.
“We have been training hard and the team will go out to Doha to try and get a good result,” said South Sudan’s coach Besong.
South Sudan squad
Goalkeepers: Majak Mawith, Ramadan John, Khamis Daniel
Defenders: Dhata Joseph, Peter Maker, Rashid Toha Rashid, Mutwakil Abdelkharim, Omot Sebit, Rehan Angier
Midfielders: Musa Asad, Stephen Pawar, Gibson Wande
Forwards: Kur Gai, Makueth Wol,Valentino Kudon Yuel, Aluk Akech, John Albino
The Falcons of Sudan have arrived in Doha, Qatar ahead of the preliminary match against Libya in the 2021.
Coach Hubert Velud’s side arrived on Wednesday night ahead of the match slated for June 19th at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha.
Velud said the two friendly matches they played against Zambia have helped the team prepare well ahead of the match against Libya. Sudan beat Zambia 3-2 in the first friendly match, while Zambia revenged winning 1-0 in the second match, all played in Khartoum.
“We have prepare well and I am optimistic we shall play well and go all out to try and qualify for the next round of the FIFA Arab Cup,” added the coach.
Besides Sudan, the other teams from the CECAFA region include Somalia who will face Oman, South Sudan will take on Jordan, while Djibouti battle Lebanon.
Sudan’s squad
Goalkeepers: Ali Abdallah, Mohamed Alnour, Mohamed Mustafa
Defenders: Samwal Mergani, Faris Abdallah, Mohamed Ahmed, Amir Kamal, Ahmed Abdalmonem, Athir Altahir, Rami, Hussain Ibrahim
Midfielders: Nasralden Omer, Abuagla Abdallah, Walaaldin Khidir, Diaalden Mahgoub, Altag Yagoub, Sharafalden Shaiboub, Maaz Abdulrahim
Strikers: Walid Bakhit, Mohamed Abdulrahman, Algozoli Mouh, Saifalden Malik, Yassin Hamid
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