The stage is set for an exciting showdown Uganda gears up to host the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers for the CECAFA region with matches played at the newly renovated Nakivubo Hamz Stadium and St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende.
The qualifiers, which will feature eight teams vying for two slots in the AFCON U-17 final tournament, will see Uganda compete against regional rivals Tanzania, Burundi, and Ethiopia in Group A, while defending champions Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Kenya face off in Group B.
The group stage matches will conclude on December 21, 2024, determining which teams advance to the semi-finals.
Additionally, the iconic Nakivubo Stadium will host the semi-finals that are set for December 24, 2024, with the first match at 2:00 PM and the second at 5:00 PM.
The winners will proceed to the highly anticipated final, scheduled for December 27, 2024, at 4:00 PM. A third-place playoff will also take place earlier that day at 1:00 PM.
Why Nakivubo Stadium?
Nakivubo Stadium, one of Uganda’s oldest and most iconic sports venues was opened early this year after undergoing an extensive reconstruction under the leadership of tycoon Hamis Kiggundu and his company, Ham Enterprises.
The renovation transformed the stadium into a state-of-the-art multi-purpose sports complex, with the facility now attracting international competition and fostering local talent.
This ambitious redevelopment reached a significant milestone when FIFA certified its new playing turf under the “FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf.”
The upcoming U-17 qualifiers at the Stadium will mark the first major international football tournament to be held at the newly rebranded Hamz Stadium Nakivubo Memorial, as the stadium was officially renamed following the redevelopment.
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