CECAFA representatives Kenya and Tanzania are still win-less at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Egypt.

Kenya’s Rising Stars suffered a 3-1 Group B defeat to Tunisia in a match played on Sunday at the 30 June Air Defense Stadium in Cairo.

Lawrence Ouma Okoth gave Kenya the lead after 38 minutes, but Tunisia earned a penalty and converted through Fares Bousnina in the eighth minute of added time before the break.

After resumption Tunisia made it 2-1 after 70 minutes through Omar Ben Ali, and Alaeddine Derbali netted the third five minutes to full time.

It was Kenya’s second straight defeat at the tournament after losing their opening match 3-2 against Morocco.

On Saturday Tanzania also suffered a straight defeat going down 1-0 to Sierra Leone in a Group A encounter. Tanzania kick started their campaign with a 1-0 loss to South Africa. They will will conclude their Group A games against Zambia and Egypt.

The four semi-finalists will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup to take place in Chile.

Makamba based Aigle Noir Club Sportif have been crowned champions of the 2024/2025 Primus Burundi Premier League.

Coach Jinny Ndayizeye’s team received their trophy after stopping Rukinzo 2-0 in round 29 match of the Primus Burundi Premier League played at the NPPC Stadium, Makamba on Saturday.

Two second half goals by Samiri Bukuru and Saidi Fataki were enough to ensure Aigle Noir CS increased their lead to 69 points with one match to be played.

“We are very happy to lift this trophy for the second time in the history of the Club,” said a happy Fataki after the final whistle.  This marks Aigle Noir CS’s second league title, following their historic 2018–2019 victory.

The Club has won 21 matches, drawn six and suffered two defeats, while second placed Musongati FC have collected 57 points and Bumamuru FC in third place also with 57, but a lower goal difference.

Vital’O FC who have won a record 21 Premier League titles are fourth on the log with 52 points.

The official awards ceremony was graced by several prominent figures including the Burundi Football Federation (FFB) President, Alenzandre Muyenge, representatives of the official league sponsors Primus, Ambassador Gervais Abayeho, Minister of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports, and Culture and Lydia Nsekera, President of the National Olympic Committee among others.

Aigle Noir CS will now prepare to represent Burundi in the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League expected to kickoff in August or September.

The head coach of Kenya’s U-20 team, Rising Stars, Salim Babu has said they will have to improve in the other matches ahead at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Kenya gave a good performance, but conceded late to fall 3-2 to Morocco in a Group B match played at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday night.

“We started well by taking the lead, but again fell back and did not defend well towards the end of the match against Morocco. Ofcourse Morocco are a good side, but my boys had tried to play well, but did not keep the composure,” added the coach.

Coach Babu made it clear that they must god back to the drawing board and work hard before taking on Tunisia in the second match on May 4th. “We must improve and try to get back to get a win in our second match,” added Babu.

Against Morocco, Lawrence Ouma gave the Rising Stars the lead after 16 minutes with a well timed header after a Kevin Injehu free kick. But Morocco’s Yassir Zabiri made it 1-1 just before half time. Zabiri was on target again after the break, but Hassan Beja slotted after 71 minutes to make it two for Kenya after Aldrine Kibet had chested the ball well in the box.

Seven minutes later Kenya failed to defend well and Reda Laalaoui made it 3-2 for Morocco. The North African side missed a penalty late in the game with Kenyan goalkeeper Baron Ochieng stopping Othmane Maamma’s effort.

Kenya will return to action against Tunisia on May 4^th, while CECAFA’s second representatives Tanzania who lost their first Group A match 1-0 to South Africa will be in action against Sierra Leone on Saturday.

The four semi-finalists will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup to take place in Chile.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have organised a successful Media Officers’ Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.

Over twenty participants from 11 Member Associations in the CECAFA Zone participated in the 3-Day Workshop that concluded on Wednesday at the Swiss Lenana Mount Hotel.

Gen. Augustino Parek Maduot, the CECAFA Vice President urged all participants to take the knowledge gained and put it into action. “Let it influence your daily work. Let it raise the standards in your federations. Let it serve as an example for others. And let it be a stepping stone to even greater achievements in your careers,” added the guest of honour Maduot.

The guest of honour, also the President of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) thanked CAF for all the support. “We extend our deepest gratitude for the support and partnership that made this workshop possible. To Football Kenya Federation, we say a heartfelt thank you for hosting the Workshop,” added Maduot.

The Workshop instructed by CAF Media Manager Charlotte Pelagie Eyoum, and CAF Consultant from Tunisia, Mondher Chaouachi was filled with a lot of engagement, discussions, interactions and practical sessions at the Nyayo Stadium.

Auka Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director thanked the instructors and the participants for the three days of intense learning and exchanging ideas. “We shall give the different media officers opportunity at some of our CECAFA tournaments,” said Gecheo.

The participants thanked CECAFA and CAF for putting together the Workshop which helped them learn new aspects. “We thank CECAFA and CAF for this opportunity,” said Phidaus Nakaweesi, from Uganda. Innocent Okama, from Tanzania was also full of praise for CECAFA and CAF pointing out that he has gained a lot from the Workshop.

Participants

Mutuyima Olivier Maurice, Sonia Isaro (Rwanda), Mohamed Hassan Said (Zanzibar), Stephen Mayamba, Phidaus Nakaweesi, Abdu Wasike (Uganda), Innocent Okama (Tanzania), Adanan Mohamed Sharif, Mohammed Abdi Muudey (Somalia), Abdella Mohamedali Abdela, Danayit Tesfaezgi Kifleyesus (Eritrea), Kadra Ahmed Toube, Farhan Elmi Farah (Djibouti), Samuel Pawan, Sarah Jacob (South Sudan), Willis Otieno, Gladys Onyango, Shon Osimbo, Jeff Kinyanjui (Kenya), Patrick Harakandi, Mohoro Nadege (Burundi), Atif Ahmed Mohamed (Sudan)