The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) successfully conducted the inaugural CECAFA/ CAF Technical Study Group (TSG) Workshop that concluded on Saturday at the Swiss Mount Lenana Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

The three-day event facilitated by CAF Elite Instructors Michael Amenga from Kenya and Tanzania’s Oscar Mirambo run from March 13-15th, 2025.

A record 14 CAF A and B licensed coaches from CECAFA Member Associations namely: Sudan, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Djibouti, Zanzibar and Uganda took part in this workshop. The participants engaged in sessions and had opportunity to carry out practical sessions at Dandora Stadium during two Kenya Premier League matches.

The CECAFA CAF-backed workshop aims at enhancing technical and performance analysis skills among TSGs, marking a significant step in the region’s football development. These analysis helps identify trends, technical strategies and data driven decisions as well as adopting guidelines and frameworks for youth player development.

FKF Education Officer Salim Ali shared his appreciation on the strides CECAFA has undertaken, terming it as remarkable and positive step towards the region being a power house among other zones in CAF.

“Thank you CECAFA and CAF for bringing up this course as we have acquired a lot of technical knowledge from senior instructions that we will implement. The learning environment and the organization was great, echoed Sharon Kizza, a participant from Uganda.

In his closing remarks, CECAFA Executive Director Auka Gecheo shared that the capacity building initiatives will continue and he anticipates to see participants playing similar roles in CECAFA and CAF tournaments in near times.

The President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Wallace Karia became the third Tanzanian to be elected to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee. 

Karia was unopposed to represent the CECAFA Zone during the elective CAF General Assembly that took place at the Marriot Mena House Hotel in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.

Other Tanzanians Said El Maamry and Leodegar Tenga have served on the CAF Executive Committee before. Duirng the same Assembly Dr. Patrice Motsepe was re-elected unopposed to serve a second teram as CAF President.

“I am very happy that I have been elected to serve on the CAF Executive Committe. I thank members of CECAFA for showing solidarity and decided that I go and represent them at CAF,” said a happy Karia.

He pointed out that one of his targets will be to ensure that teams in the CECAFA Zone become more competitive and can qualify for major events and event win them. “We have been improving on the curve, but we can still do better and as a leader I am going to further push for this to happen,” he added.

Hussein Mohammed, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President told Cecafaonline.com that it was a good move to have Karia represent CECAFA at the CAF Exco. “We are happy that Karia will be representing our Zone at CAF and pushing interests for our Zone,” he added.

The South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) President Augustino Maduot Parek also praised Karia for the good work and unity he has brought in the Zone which was eventually good that he is elected to represent a CAF as an EXCO member. “We are happy about this development and wish him well,” added Parek who is expected to take over as CECAFA President.

“We as Burundi are very happy that Karia has been elected as a member of the CAF Exco. We wish him success,” said the Burundi Football Federation President, Alexandre Muyenge.

Sudan Football Association (SFA) President, Mutasim Jaafar Sarkhatm remains as a CAF Exco member for the next two years, while Isayas Jira Bosho, President of the Ethiopia Football Federation is a co-opted member.

Former African and Barcelona star and current President of the Cameroon Football body, Samuel Eto’o Fils also secured a seat unopposed to represent the UNIFFAC Zone. Ghana’s Kurt Okraku, Mustapha Raji (Liberia) and Algeria’s Sudhi Walid were also unopposed.

Feizal Sidat of Mozambique and Samir Sobha from Mauritius were also elected from the COSAFA Zone to join the CAF Exco.

The President of the Fédération Djiboutienne de Football (FDF), Souleiman Hassan Waberi has said he very excited to become member of the FIFA Council 2025-2029.

Waberi, a former referee was among the six members elected to represent Africa during the elective CAF General Assembly held at the Marriot Mena House Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.

“First of all I want to thank my brother from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations and all delegates who voted for me to ensure I get to represent Africa on the FIFA Council,” said Waberi.

Waberi made it clear that it is a previlege to be voted to go serve the African continent on the FIFA Council and help play a role in shaping more growth in the continent.

“I am happy to become the first member from the CECAFA Zone to be elected to the FIFA Council and I promise to work hard together with the other elected members to keep pushing for Football development,” said the experienced Football administrator.

“This is more than a personal victory, it is a symbol for an entire nation, for Africa, for the CECAFA zone and for all those who believe in stronger, more united football.

I measure the magnitude of this responsibility and the honor I have been given. To those who believed in me, to the family, to the presidents of the federations, to FIFA and CAF, to the President of the Republic of Djibouti, to the First Lady, Ms. Aïcha Garad, to the football lovers and to all the Djiboutian people who supported me throughout this battle: Thank you,” added Waberi.

He made it clear that Africa is full of talent, ideas, energy, which must now turn this wealth into concrete opportunity. “My commitment is clear: to give our continent the place it deserves in the global football, to promote a more inclusive and ambitious sport,” he added.

The out-going CAF Third Vice President Waberi has been President of the Fédération Djiboutienne de Football (FDF) from 2012 until today. He made his ambition clear last year that he wanted to become a Member of the FIFA Council.

In 2017, he was elected as a member of the executive committee of CAF. He has also served as a member of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

The other members elected today on the FIFA Council besides Waberi include; Hany Abo Rida (Egypt), Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), Ahmed Ould Yahya (Mauritania), Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (Niger) and female representative Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros).

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe on Monday held a fruitful meeting with members of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

Dr. Motsepe met the members during a meeting held at the Marriot Mena House Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.

The meetings which also involved other Zones separately took place ahead of the 14^th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly.

Wallace Karia, President of CECAFA and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) told Cecafaonline.com that the meeting was very fruitful and a lot of developmental issues were discussed. “We thank Dr. Motsepe for holding this successful meeting which is geared at further developing Football,” added Karia.

Augustino Maduot Parek, President of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) and Vice President of CECAFA also thanked Dr. Motsepe for the fruitful meeting that discussed several aspects to help develop Football.

CECAFA together with the other Zones COSAFA, UNIFFAC, WAFU A, WAFU B and UNAF commended the work of CAF under the leadership of Dr. Motsepe, including the 50% increase of Annual subventions from USD 500,000 to USD 750,000 that has been the bedrock of football development and hosting competitions at zonal level.

Dr. Motsepe thanked the six CAF Zonal Unions and their Member Associations for their contribution in driving the vision of making African Football globally competitive and self-sustaining.