NEWS
Young Africans battle Simba SC in biggest League derby in CECAFA Zone
All roads will lead to the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium today Saturday to witness the Kariakoo derby in the NBC Tanzania Premier League between arch-rivals Young Africans SC and Simba SC.
It is also the biggest League derby in the CECAFA Zone which will pit the two teams in the Zone that reached the quarter final stage of the 2023/2024 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
After bowing out at the quarter final stage of TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, the two sides will be all out to try and prove a point to send a strong message to their fans. Of course Young Africans SC go into the match with a lot of confidence with a 4 point league on the log ahead of Azam FC who have played two matches more, while Simba SC have 46 points from 20 matches.
Miguel Gamondi, the Young Africans SC head coach said that although it is a derby, it is like any other game. ” We have prepared well and the players are very motivated to come out and win the match. Yes we respect our opponents and what happened before will not matter in the match on Saturday, ” said Gamondi.
In their last meeting i the first leg of the League last November, Young Africans brushed a side their rivals 5-1 in a match played at the same Stadium.
But Simba SC who bowed out of the CRDB Bank Confederation Cup few days ago are expected to come all out to try and prove a point. Selemani Matola, the Simba SC assistant coach said during an interview that although they know their opponents are enjoying good form, they are well prepared for the match.
” We are well prepared and remember this is a derby which makes it a very strong match, ” added Matola. The Simba SC captain Shomari Kapombe also summed it up saying they have prepared well and will be all out targeting three points from that match.
While Simba SC will look to the experience of Burundian international Saidi Ntibazonkiza and Clatous Chama for the goals, Young Africans Sc will hope that their midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki who has netted 14 goals in the League now finds his scoring touch.
Referee Ahmed Arajiga is expected to take charge of the match which is expected to attract over 40,000 spectators from within Tanzania and from other countries.
Besides the Tanzanian Kariakoo derby, the other big derbies in the CECAFA Zone include Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in Kenya, and Al Merriekh and Al Hilal in Sudan.
Gor Mahia FC have been crowned 2025/2026 FKF Premier League champions.
Handled by coach Charles Akonnor, the Gor Mahia side lost their last match 1-0 to Nairobi United at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The defeat did not spoil the party as the giants lifted their 22nd League title and were crowned at the same Stadium. “We are vey happy that after a tough season we emerged champions. I thank the team and management for the efforts,” added coach Akonnor.
Gor Mahia FC completed the League with 69 points from 34 matches played, while second placed AFC Leopards collected 64 points, and Kenya Police FC in third place with 55 points.
K’Ogalo will receive KSh15 million (approximately $116,000) in prize money and return to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League next season.
The Sudan Football Association (SFA) has organized two Football development workshops in the capital Khartoum.
The development comes after over two years of non activity because of the civil war that started in 2023.
Besides the referees and assessors workshop taking place, the Elite League is also on-going.
Ali Ahmed, the Head of Referees at the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) is conducting the two week workshop for referees and assessors at the Sudan Football Association (SFA) Technical Centre.
“We are very happy to have these workshops back in Sudan because Football contributes a big role in peace and integration here. CECAFA is also proud to support Sudan in Football development,” added Ahmed.
Osama Atta Elmanan Hassan, the SFA Vice President says they are glad to have Football back to Khartoum and also organize Football development workshops.
Vipers Sports Club are champions of the 2025/2026 StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
The Kitende based side defeated Maroons FC 3-0 in a match played at the Wankulukuku Stadium on Tuesday to clinch their eighth Premier League title.
Veteran Yunus Sentamu gave Vipers SC the lead, before Usama Arafat and Karim Watambala added to more goals to ensure Vipers SC clinched the title with one more match to be played.
The win and a goalless draw by closest challengers KCCA FC against URA FC ensured Vipers bagged yet another trophy as they now have 64 points from 29 matches.
In the other matches played on Tuesday army side UPDF settled for a goalless draw against Calvary FC, while Police FC and Entebbe UPPC also drew 1-1, Bidco FC and Kitara FC drew 1-1, while Express FC and Lugazi FC also ended 0-0
Vipers SC handled by Belgian Van Jacky Minnaert will now represent Uganda in the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
CECAFA teams Sudan and Ethiopia have been placed in Group J 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA qualifiers.
In the draw conducted at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday, the two CECAFA teams were placed alongside Senegal and Mozambique.
The draw was conducted by former African football stars Max-Alain Gradel (Cote d’Ivoire), William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Essam El Hadary (Egypt) and Trésor Mputu (DR Congo).
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will co-host the tournament from June 19 June to July 17, 2027. Co-hosts will take part in qualifiers but have secured their places as co-hosts, so one team from their pool will join them.
The first matches of the group qualifiers will kick-off in September, 2026.
Group D also has two CECAFA teams Kenya and Eritrea together with South Africa and Guinea. Somalia who are making a return to the group stage of the qualifiers after several years are placed alongside Ivory Coast, Ghana and The Gambia.
The 48 teams that will play in the qualifiers have been placed into 12 groups, with the top two in each pool advancing to the continental finals.
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