Tanzania and Uganda are the winners of the Boys and Girls categories at the CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA qualifier that climaxed on Thursday in Uganda.

The Tanzania team handled by former International Boniface Pawasa defeated Rwanda 2-0 in their last deciding match to finish ahead of Uganda on better goal difference since each collected six points.

Elick Yusuph converted a penalty in the first half, and Jabiri Farijala wrapped it up with a second half goal at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. “I am very happy that we are the

champions of the tournament. It was hard work and now we shall need to focus to preparing a team for the continental tournament,” said Pawasa

The earlier Boys match saw Burundi hold Somalia to a goalless draw.

In the Girl’s category Uganda emerged Champions with a better goal difference than Tanzania who also finished with 7 points.

Uganda humbled Rwanda 8-0 in an earlier match with Brendah Nassaka scoring four goals, while Halima Mupyanga scored a brace. Cynthia Kirenga and Lilian Nabukeera also got their names on the score sheet.

The second match saw Tanzania stop Burundi 1-0 with Helena Mtundagi scoring the lone goal. Lilian Nabukeera, Uganda’s captain thanked all her teammates for the hard work. “We are very happy to be the champions,” she added.

While the champions Tanzania and Uganda received medals and trophies at the Awards ceremony, they also picked a US$10,000 the dummy cheque of US$100,000 respectively.

Uganda’s Boys team and the Tanzania Girls team collected their medals and a dummy cheque of US$75,000 each, while Somalia and Burundi who came third in the Boys and Girl’s categories respectively also picked medals and dummy cheques of US$50,000 each.

The CAF Africa Schools Football Championship is sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation.

The Somalia team has revived their title hopes in the Boys category at the on-going Zonal CAF African Schools Football Championship in Uganda.

After kick starting their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Uganda and a draw against Tanzania on Tuesday, the Somalia team defeated Rwanda 2-1 in a tough match played today at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

Zakariya Osman gave the Somalia team the lead, and Olivier Nshimiyimana leveled matters. But the Somalia team did not give up and piled lots of pressure to earn a penalty that skipper Bashir Hassan converted.

The win takes Somalia to second place with 4 points, behind Uganda (6 points) who only managed goalless draws against Tanzania and Burundi in matches played on Wednesday.

“We are hungry and will be determined to beat Burundi on Thursday so that we win the Cup,” said Somalia’s Captain Bashir Hassan. The two matches in the Boys category between Somalia and Burundi, and Tanzania against Rwanda will decide which team wins the Cup. Uganda who top the log have played all their 4 matches and can only keep their fingers crossed.

In the Girls category Uganda and Tanzania settled for a goalless draw, while Burundi humbled Rwanda 3-0. Erica Iradukunda netted a brace, while Emelyne Shurwenylmana Emelyne was also on target for the third placed Burundi team that has collected 3 points. Tanzania and Uganda each have 4 points going into the final day on Thursday.

Rwanda will face Uganda, while table leaders Tanzania battle Burundi in the final Girls’ matches to be played on Thursday.

The winners in each category will qualify to represent the Zone at the continental Championship next year. The winner will also bag US$100,000, the runner-up US$75,000, and the third placed US$50,000. The Championship is also supported by the Motsepe Foundation.

Action in the CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA qualifiers will start on December 10^th, 2024 at the St. Marys Stadium, Kitende.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director released the fixtures for both the Boys and Girls categories on Sunday evening.

He made it clear that with the five and four teams for the boys and girls respectively, the Championship will be played on a round robin basis. “The teams with more points after all matches are played will emerge champions in each of the categories,” added Mossi.

Tanzania will open the campaign against Burundi in the Boys category, while Tanzania again take on Rwanda in the Girls category in the second match of the day.

Four Boys matches will be played on Tuesday, while two matches will be played for the Girls.

Boys: Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Somalia, Rwanda

Girls: Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda

Kenya’s Lindey Weey Atieno has said she is more motivated to keep working hard after scooping the Best Girls’ Player Award at the CAF Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers.

Uganda emerged winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories at the climax of the Championship at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya on December 13^th, 2023.

But Atieno says although they lost to Uganda in the final, winning the best Player’s Award has motivated her to keep working hard. “The Award means a lot to me because it’s a good reminder that when you work hard you are able to achieve certain things as a footballer,” added Atieno.

She made it clear that playing five matches in the qualifiers was a very good test for her and the team because it gave them an opportunity to compete at a higher level. “The qualifier was very good because it was a good platform for us players and the Award has made me even keep pushing harder to become a professional footballer,” added Atieno.

Besides Ateino, Uganda’s duo of Huda Ayikeru and Shadia Nabirye also scooped the best goalkeeper and top scorer’s Awards in the girls’ category.

Achraf Kyakuwa from Uganda was voted best player for the boys’ category, while Abraham Nassor (Tanzania) a was best goalkeeper and Simon Wanyama (Uganda) top scorer.