_{The national U-20 teams of South Sudan and Uganda have stepped up preparations ahead of the U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.}

_{Egypt will host the competition from February 19th to March 11th, 2023. For the first time the AFCON U-20 will attract 12 teams that are pooled in three groups.}

_{South Sudan and Uganda, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) representatives have all been pooled in Group B that will also have The Central African Republic and Congo Brazzaville.}

_{Stefano Cusin, also the head coach of the South Sudan national team has been handling the U-20 team before they travel to Cairo, Egypt on Monday. The South Sudan team is expected to pitch camp in Egypt where they will also play three friendly matches.}

_{“The team has been putting in a lot of effort during training and the camp in Egypt will also help us better,” added Cusin. Victor Lawrence Lual, the Secretary General of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) confirmed that the team will play a friendly match against Egypt’s U-20 team on February 10th in Cairo. “We shall also have two other build-up matches before the tournament,” added Lual.}

_{For the CECAFA U-20 champions Uganda Hippos have also been preparing for over two weeks in Njeru before shifting to Kampala. Head coach Jackson Mayanja has made it clear that his target is to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.}

_{“We know what is at stake and the players know what we expect from them. We have stepped up with training and we shall continue to play more build-up matches,” added Mayanja.}

_{The tournament in Egypt will also double as the African qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 to be held in Indonesia. The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup.}

South Sudan U20 National team has booked a semi-final slot in the on-going U-20 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone by beating Djibouti by a solitary goal in a match played at Kober Stadium, Khartoum.

In the crucial final Group A match, both teams played attractive attacking football but lacked sharpness in front of goal. One of the best chances came to Tito Mayor who missed a clear chance after a beautiful teamwork build-up in the 25th minute. Moments later some good pressing forcing a fine save from Djibouti keeper, Aboubakar Abdi.

Both teams committed a number of fouls with South Sudan having a penalty appeal denied by the referee who waved play on. The match went into halftime 0-0.

Coming into the second half South Sudan showed more intention in attacking while Djibouti’s defense held on together breaking with counterattacks. South Sudan pressing yielded no results and the technical bench initiated their first substitution card by bringing in Bhaanki Abujalha in the 58th minute for Agot and minutes later Aziz Fulla for Kenyi Wani.

South Sudan head coach, Charles John brought in Jacob Coal for Kennedy Martin in the 72nd minute. In the 79th minute, an eruptive attack by South Sudan from the left flank produced a set piece into Djibouti’s penalty box that was handled by a defender for a penalty. It was at this moment that Captain Joseph Jele stepped back calmly to slot home the penalty that won the match.

Djibouti tried to get into the game by bringing on board Khalid Ali for Chakib Ali Omar in the 83rd minute but South Sudan held on firmly into end of the match to secure an important win that took them to the next stage of the tourney.

They qualified as runners-up in Group A led by Sudan who won by a solitary goal against Burundi in Group A final match held at Al-Hilal Stadium, Khartoum.

_{Group A Table Standings}

                 _{P    W   D     L   GF    GA   A  Pts}

_{Sudan       3      2     1     0     2       0     2    7}

_{S.Sudan    3      1     2    0     1       0     1     5}

Burundi 3      1    1   0     5     1     4  4    

_{Djibouti    3      0     0     2     0      7     -7    0}

The member Associations of Sudan and Rwanda have sent in their bids to host the Zonal qualifiers of the 2023 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Auka Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director confirmed today that they have received bids for four tournaments to be hosted in the region.

“We have received bids from Sudan and Rwanda to hosts the AFCON U-20 qualifiers, while Ethiopia and Tanzania have also sent in bids to host the AFCON U-17 qualifiers,” said Gecheo.

While it was agreed during the CECAFA Extra Ordinary Assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania in February, 2022 that Uganda hosts the CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship, Tanzania is the only member Association to bid to host the AFCON Women’s Champions League qualifiers for the Zone.

Uganda have also applied to host the qualifiers for the Pan African School Cup. No member Association is yet to show interest in hosting the CECAFA Kagame Cup and the CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup.

“The executive Committee will meet soon to assess the bids and the final list of hosts released,” said Auka.

Vodacom Tanzania Premier League side, Azam FC have defeated KCCA FC 2-0 in a Group B match of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2021.

Peter Paul Kasunda netted a brace to make sure the ice cream makers made a good start at the Azam Complex, Chamazi on Monday night.

It was a sweet revenge for Azam FC who lost 1-0 to the Ugandan side in the 2019 final in Kigali, Rwanda.

Earlier Brian Ahebwa missed from close range after 24 minutes before Herbert Achai also had his hot blocked by Azam FC goalkeeper Benedict Florence Haule. Brian Majwega was also forced to clear off the line mid way the first half before the game went into a goalless draw after 45 minutes.

Early in the second half Idd Bahati Kipagwile crossed to Kasunda who slotted past the KCCA FC goalkeeper before he made it 2-0 on 63 minutes. On the two occasions KCCA defender Denis Iguma failed to make the last clearance.

KCCA FC tried to fight back, but found a steady Azam FC defending line.

“We did not play well today and also missed the chances we created. We need to improve in our second match,” said KCCA FC coach Morley Byekwaso.

The Azam FC coach Vivier Bahati said it was a good display by his team. “We want to continue playing good football as the tournament progresses,” he added.

In an earlier Group B match Burundi’s Le Messager Ngozi battled to a 1-1 draw against Zanzibar Premier League champions KMKM SC. Akbar Muderi netted for the Burundian side, while Mohamed Said Mohamed scored for KMKM SC.

Action will return on Wednesday with two matches on card as Nyasa Big Bullets face Express FC, while Atlabara FC battle Young Africans SC in Group A matches.