In a recent announcement by the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), eighteen teams are gearing up for the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers of the Pan African Schools Football Championship.
Scheduled to take place at the Kasarani Annex Stadium in Nairobi from December 10-13th, 2023, the competition promises excitement and anticipation.
Auka Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director, highlighted the significance of Eritrea’s participation, expressing joy over their entry into the Boys category after a hiatus from recent tournaments.
“We are happy that Eritrea, who have not participated in many of our recent tournaments, will finally send a team to the Schools Championship,” Gecheo stated
With eleven boys teams and seven girls teams set to compete, the champions in each category will earn the privilege to represent the Zone at the Africa Schools Championship scheduled for April next year.
Reflecting on the upcoming event, Gecheo noted, “After the inaugural Zonal Championship played in February this year in Tanzania, we expect a more competitive event this year.”
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Djibouti will field both boys’ and girls’ teams, while Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan, and Sudan will have representation in the boys’ category.
The inaugural Championship held in February saw Uganda’s Royal Giant High School and Fountain Gate Dodoma School (Tanzania) emerge as champions in the boys and girls categories.
Notably, Fountain Gate Dodoma School later secured the African Schools Championship girls’ trophy during the tournament held in South Africa.
The upcoming CECAFA Zonal qualifiers promise to continue the legacy of spirited competition and showcase the rising talent in African school football.
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