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

The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 CECAFA qualifiers will take place on September 23^rd in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Manager of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) said the draw will be hosted at Azam TV studios.

“We are delighted that our broadcast partners Azam TV have accepted to host the draw,” said Mossi.

The Zonal qualifiers are set to take place October 10-20^th in the Rwandan capital Kigali. “Ten Member Associations have registered their teams for the qualifiers,” confirmed Mossi.

The best three teams will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.

Tanzania are the reigning champions after they defeated Uganda in the final last year when the tournament was held in Ethiopia.

Teams: Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan

Tanzania’s Luqman Mbalasalu and Dawit Kasaw Yirdaw received the joint Top scorer Award at the climax of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.

The two players each finished with eight goals a piece as the tournament ended on Tuesday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Isayas Jira, the President of the Ethiopia Football Federation and CAF Exco Member awarded the two players.

The hosts who finished third also won the Fair Play Award, while Tanzania’s Haji Abdallah who also stopped two penalties in the tournament was voted Best goalkeeper.

Uganda’s captain Owen Mukisa voted Best Player of the tournament received his Award from the CECAFA Acting President and President of the Burundi Football Federation, Alexandre Muyenge.

Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, the Tanzania Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports handed of the Best Coach Award to Elieneza Nicolaus Nsangazelu.

Awards

Fair Play Award – Ethiopia

Gold Medalists – Tanzania

Silver Medalists – Uganda

Bronze Medalists – Ethiopia

Best Goalkeeper – Haji Abdallah (Tanzania)

Top Scorers – Luqman Mbalasalu (Tanzania), Dawit Kasaw Yirdaw (Ethiopia)

Best Player – Owen Mukisa (Uganda)

Best Coash – Elieneza Nicolaus Nsangazelu (Tanzania)

Tanzania are the winners of the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026.

It was sweet revenge as Tanzania defeated Uganda 3-2 in the final played on Tuesday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Last year Uganda defeated Tanzania 2-1 in the final, while this year, Coach Elieneza Nicolaus Nsanganzelu’s team stopped the Cubs 1-0 in the group stage and in the final 3-2.

Razaki Mbegelendi gave Tanzania the lead after only 6 minutes after Shakur Ngobi’s back-pass had been intercepted. Mbegelendi made no mistake shooting past Uganda’s goalkeeper Ashraf Lukyamuzi.

Thomas Ogena restored matters for Uganda making it 1-1 after 13 minutes with a close range finish past the Tanzanian goalkeeper Haji Abdallah.

Another defensive mix-up gave Tanzania space to score the second goal after 30 minutes with Mbegelendi pouncing and finishing in style. At the stroke of half time Luqman Mbalasalu netted Tanzania’s third goal.

After the interval Uganda tries to change their style of play and attacked in numbers. Fahad Ismail missed a penalty for Uganda after 56 minutes. Tanzania’s goalkeeper Abdallah stopped the penalty.

The two sides continued to attack on either side and Uganda netted their second goal through Brian Olwa in added time. It was all celebration after the final whistle as the Tanzanian team and the technical bench celebrated on the pitch.

“This is a very sweet win and the players have worked hard to finish the tournament with six wins,” said Tanzania’s coach Elieneza Nicolaus Nsanganzelu after the match

In the earlier play-off match hosts Ethiopia defeated Kenya 3-0 to book a place in the AFCON U-17 tournament next year to be held in Moroco. Dawit Kassaw, Biyam Abrha and Biruk Eyilachew scored for the hosts.

The final was graced by the Acting CECAFA President, Alenxandre Muyenge, also President of the Burundi Football Federation, Wallace Karia (Tanzania Football Federation President and CAF Exco Member), Isayas Jira (Ethiopia Football Federation President and CAF Exco-Member), Issa Magoola (Executive Member of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations), the Tanzania Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, and the CECAFA Interim Executive Officer Jean Sseninde.