The CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers enters the semi final stage on Monday at the St. Marys’ Stadium, Kitende in Uganda.

Uganda who humbled Djibouti 9-0 and stopped Kenya 7-0 on Saturday have now been joined by Ethiopia and Tanzania for the semi-finals in the Boy’s category.

Ethiopia who picked two wins on Day 1 put the icing on the cake with a hard fought 1-0 victory against Rwanda in a Group B match played on Sunday.

After a poor start on Friday losing one and drawing another, the 2024 Boy’s champions Tanzania sailed through to the knock out stage after a 1-0 win against a hard fighting South Sudan side.

The second team to qualify from Group A will be decided on Monday when Uganda face second placed Burundi.

In the Girl’s category Uganda who won their two matches on Day 1 are already through before they face bottom placed Kenya in the final match on Monday. Victory for Uganda will see second placed Burundi also advance.

Ethiopia who face Group B table leaders Tanzania on Monday settled for a goalless draw against South Sudan, while South Sudan humbled Djibouti 4-0 with Alice Justin netting a hat-trick on Sunday.

A cash prize of US$100,000 will go to the winners, US$75,000 to the silver medalists and US$50,000 for the bronze medal winners. The cash prizes are all used towards a project back at the schools.

Day 2 results

Boys

Djibouti 0 Kenya 3

Ethiopia 1 Rwanda 0

Tanzania 1 South Sudan 0

Girls

South Sudan 0 Ethiopia 0

Burundi 2 Kenya 0

Burundi 0 Rwanda 0

South Sudan 4 Djibouti 0

Hosts Uganda and Tanzania have kept a 100% winning record at the CECAFA Zoal CAF African Schools Football Championship kicked off on Saturday.

In their first Group A Girls’ match played at the FUFA Stadium Kadiba, Uganda defeated Burundi 2-1. Lydia Nameseruja and Grace Kawino netted for the hosts, while Chantal Nitibitanga scored for Burundi.

Uganda stopped Rwanda 2-0 in their second match with Lydia Namaseruka netting a brace. “I am very delighted that on the first day we have won all our two matches and I have managed to score three goals,” said a happy Namaseruka after the match.

Tanzania also picked two wins in the Girls’ Group B matches defeating South Sudan 2-1, and humbling Djibouti 6-0 where Sulemani Hajra scored four goals.

Ethiopia making a return to the Zonal qualifiers since 2022 humbled Djibouti 10-0. Kenya who arrived on Saturday by road from Nairobi managed to collect a goalless draw against Rwanda in their opening Group A match.

Girls’ results

Ethiopia 10 Djibouti 0

Tanzania 2 South Sudan 1

Uganda 2 Burundi 1

Djibouti 0 Tanzania 6

Rwanda 0 Uganda 2

Ethiopia and Djibouti’s Boy’s teams have collected vital wins on Day 1 of the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers ongoing in Uganda.

Making a come back after two years, the Ethiopia team shocked the 2024 champions Tanzania 1-0 in a Group B match played at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, while Djibouti recovered from a 9-0 defeat to Uganda to surprise Burundi 3-1in their second Group A match.

It was Djibouti’s first ever win in the Zonal qualifiers of the CAF African Schools Football Championship.

In the other Boys’ matches played South Sudan recovered from a goal down to defeat Rwanda 2-1 with skipper Samuel John scoring a brace.

Tanzania under the watchful eyes of former International defender Boniface Pawasa settled for a goalless draw against Rwanda in their second match.

Ethiopia and Uganda kept a 100% winning record after the hosts stopped Kenya 7-0 in their second match, while Ethiopia defeated South Sudan 2-0. Kenya lost their second match 2-1 to a determined Burundi team that conceded first.

Going into Day 2 Uganda leads Group A with 6 points, while Burundi are second with 3 points. Ethiopia tops Group B with 6 points, while Burundi and Djibouti each have 3 points.

Boys’ results

South Sudan 2 Rwanda 1

Tanzania 0 Ethiopia 1

Uganda 9 Djibouti 0

Rwanda 0 Tanzania 0

Djibouti 3 Burundi 1

Kenya 0 Uganda 7

Ethiopia 2 South Sudan 0

Kenya 1 Burundi 2

It will be action time when the CECAFA Zonal qualifier for the CAF African Schools Football Championships kicks off in Uganda on December 6^th.

After the late withdrawal of Somalia and Sudan, eight nations will compete in both the boys and girls categories.

Justus Mugisha, the First Vice President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and Chairman of LOC said during a press conference held on Friday that Uganda is prepared to host a successful Championship.

He made it clear that Uganda is happy to be hosting this championship for the second time in a row.

“We are also very happy for the fact that it is a school sport and we are hosting it in one of the best venues both for accommodation and for competition in the school facilities at St Mary’s Stadium. We are also very happy that we are using the federation facility the FUFA Stadium Kadiba to host other matches,” added Mugisha.

Andrew Oryada, the CECAFA Head of Marketing and Communication thanked the government of Uganda and FUFA for always coming forward to host many of the tournaments in the Zone.

“Let us give the youngsters good coverage that they deserve because they are the future stars of tomorrow,” Oryada told the media.

The winners in each category will win gold medals and US$100,000, the runners-up silver medals and US$75,000, while the third placed take bronze medalists and US$50,000. The cash prizes are earmarked for strickly a development project that the winning schools identify.

Tanzania are the defending champions for the boy’s category, while Uganda lifted the girl’s title last year.