The head coach of Kenya’s U-20 team, Rising Stars, Salim Babu has said they will have to improve in the other matches ahead at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Kenya gave a good performance, but conceded late to fall 3-2 to Morocco in a Group B match played at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday night.

“We started well by taking the lead, but again fell back and did not defend well towards the end of the match against Morocco. Ofcourse Morocco are a good side, but my boys had tried to play well, but did not keep the composure,” added the coach.

Coach Babu made it clear that they must god back to the drawing board and work hard before taking on Tunisia in the second match on May 4th. “We must improve and try to get back to get a win in our second match,” added Babu.

Against Morocco, Lawrence Ouma gave the Rising Stars the lead after 16 minutes with a well timed header after a Kevin Injehu free kick. But Morocco’s Yassir Zabiri made it 1-1 just before half time. Zabiri was on target again after the break, but Hassan Beja slotted after 71 minutes to make it two for Kenya after Aldrine Kibet had chested the ball well in the box.

Seven minutes later Kenya failed to defend well and Reda Laalaoui made it 3-2 for Morocco. The North African side missed a penalty late in the game with Kenyan goalkeeper Baron Ochieng stopping Othmane Maamma’s effort.

Kenya will return to action against Tunisia on May 4^th, while CECAFA’s second representatives Tanzania who lost their first Group A match 1-0 to South Africa will be in action against Sierra Leone on Saturday.

The four semi-finalists will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup to take place in Chile.

Tanzania have made a losing start at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on-going in Egypt.

Coach Charles Mkwasa’s team suffered a 1-0 Group A defeat in a match played at the Suez Canal Stadium on Wednesday.

Although Tanzania created several scoring opportunities, it was Shakeel April’s first half goal that ensured South Africa worked hard to collect maximum points.

The CECAFA reigning champions Tanzania’s trio of Bakari Msimu, Ashrafu Kibeku and Said Naushad all tested South Africa’s goalkeeper.

“The team came out and played better football especially in the second half, but failed to take the chances created in-front of goal. The South African goalkeeper made saves to keep them in the game,” said Tanzania’s coach Mkwasa after the match.

CECAFA’s second team in the competition Kenya will face Morocco in their opening Group B match on Thursday.

The four semi-finalists will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup to take place in Chile.

The 3-Day CECAFA-CAF Media Officers’ Workshop has started at the Swiss Lenana Mount Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hussein Mohammed, President of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) who was the guest of honour opened the Workshop which has attracted 23 media officers from 11 Member Associations in the Zone.

“This Workshop, the first of it’s kind in the CECAFA Zone represents more than just a meeting, but a commitment to professionalism and continuous learning,” said the FKF President. He thanked CAF and the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association for putting up this Workshop especially as the Zone prepares to host the CHAN tournament this year and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027,” he added.

Lux September, the Acting Director and Head of TV and Communications at CAF who addressed the Workshop online urged the participants to make use of what they will learn and practice it well when they return to their countries. “I thank the CECAFA leadership for putting this together to have this Workshop,” added September.

The Executive Director of CECAFA, Auka Gecheo thanked CAF under the leadership of Dr. Patrice Motsepe for always supporting the Zone in capacity building. He also thanked all the 11 Member Associations who managed to send participants to the Workshop.

Charlotte Pelagie Eyoum, the CAF Media Manager and CAF Consultant from Tunisia, Mondher Chaouachi are the instructors of the Workshop.

Abdella Mohamedali Abdela, a participant from the Eritrea National Football Federation (ENFF) thanked CECAFA and CAF for putting together the Workshop. “I am very happy that finally I have an opportunity like this to get better,” added Abdella. A participant from South Sudan Sarah Jacob says she is also very excited to be attending this 3-Day Workshop which will help her learn new communication aspects,” she added.

The Workshop which will climax on April 30th has attracted participants from Kenya, Rwanda, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, Burundi, Djibouti and Uganda.

Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC will face RS Berkane in the final of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

After picking a slim 1-0 win in the first leg played in Zanzibar a week ago, the Tanzanian side held on to a barren draw against the South African side Stellenbosch side in the return leg played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.

While Simba SC qualified on a 1-0 goal aggregate, RS Berkane sailed through 4-1 on aggregate after winning 4-0 in the first leg and falling 1-0 in the return leg played on Sunday in Algeria against CS Constantine.

Fadlu Davids, the Simba SC head coach says he is happy that his team has made it to the final of the competition. “The semi-final over two legs were not simple, but we planned well and got the result. Now we need to focus for the final,” said Davids.

The first leg of the final will be played on May 17^th in Morocco, while the return leg will be played May 25^th in either Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar or the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Another Tanzanian side Young Africans SC also played in the final of the 2022/2023 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Simba SC’s results in the competition

Al Ahli Tripoli 0 Simba SC 0

Simba SC 3 Al Ahli Tripoli 1

Simba SC 1 Bravos do Maquis 0

CS Constantine 2 Simba SC 1

Simba SC 2 CS Sfaxien 1

CS Sfaxien 0 Simba SC 1

Bravos do Maquis 1 Simba SC 1

Simba SC 2 CS Constantine 0

Quarter finals

Al Masry 2 Simba SC 0

Simba SC 2 Al Masry 2 (Simba win 4-1 on penalties)

Semi finals

Simba SC 1 Stellenbosch 0

Stellenbosch 0 Simba SC 0