Who will win CECAFA U-15 Boys Championship ?

The curtains will come down this evening when the CECAFA U-15 Boys Championship 2023 comes to a climax at the FUFA technical Centre in Njeru, Uganda.

Reigning champions Uganda Rhinos will face a well organised Zanzibar team in the final which promises to be a thriller. To reach the final Uganda saw-off Tanzania 2-1, while Zanzibar battled to win 4-2 on penalties against South Sudan after the match had tied 1-1.

Mohamed Mrishona Mohamed, the Zanzibar coach has made it clear that his team is very hungry to prove a point. ” It is long since any of our teams got to a final. We know facing the hosts will not be easy, but the players are very motivated to give their best, ” added Mohamed.

The Zanzibar team led by skipper Mohamed Mohamed won all their three matches convincingly in the group stage to make it to the knock out. ” We are determined to try and go and win to make the people of Zanzibar happy, ” says the captain.

Uganda Rhinos who have won all their four matches in 90 minutes will of course hope that the home support counts against a tactically and physically strong Zanzibar side. Hamuza Lutalo, the Uganda coach has maintained that they will not take the final for granted.

« We know this is a final and we shall treat it with a lot of caution. We need to take our chances and play as a team because Zanzibar is a strong team, » added the Uganda Rhinos coach.

Enock Bagenda who has netted six goals in the competition so far together with Richard Okello are expected to lead Uganda’s hunt for goals.

But before the final, Tanzania will face South Sudan in a play-off to decide which team finishes third.

The competiton which attracted eight teams was used to prepare ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-17 Zonal qualifiers next year.

Collected Group results

Ethiopia 1 South Sudan 1

Uganda 15 Djibouti 0

Zanzibar 3 Rwanda 0

Tanzania 1 Somalia 0

Djibouti 1 Ethiopia 8

South Sudan 0 Uganda 3

Somalia 0 Zanzibar 4

Rwanda 1 Tanzania 2

Djibouti 0 South Sudan 12

Uganda 4 Ethiopia 0

Somalia 1 Rwanda 0

Tanzania 0 Zanzibar 2