Tanzania Retain CAF Schools Football Title As Uganda Rule CECAFA Boys’ Championship

KIGALI, Rwanda: Tanzania and Uganda have emerged as the regional champions after a competitive CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifying tournament concluded in Kigali, Rwanda.

Tanzania successfully defended their girls’ title, while Uganda claimed the boys’ championship, with both teams completing unbeaten campaigns through the group stages and knockout rounds.

The results underline the growing importance of school football as a pathway for developing young talent in the CECAFA region.

Tanzania retain CAF African Schools Football girls’ title

Tanzania produced a commanding performance in the girls’ final, defeating Kenya 3-0 at Kigali Pele Stadium to retain the regional championship.

Salah Msagala, Eva Maiope and Anna Pascal were on target for Tanzania as the defending champions controlled large spells of the match.

Msagala said the team had arrived in Rwanda intending to retain the title.

“I am very happy that we came here with a mission to win the title and we have done that,” she said after the final.

Tanzania’s success was built on an unbeaten run that began in the group stages and continued through the knockout phase.

Uganda edge Rwanda to win boys’ championship

Uganda secured the boys’ title after defeating hosts Rwanda 1-0 in the final.

Rwanda had reached the final after requiring a penalty shoot-out to overcome South Sudan in the semi-final, but Uganda held firm before producing the decisive moment.

Kennedy Okwi capitalised on a defensive mistake to score the only goal of the match after 39 minutes.

The victory completed an unbeaten campaign for Uganda, who won four matches and drew one.

Former Uganda international and coach Richard Malinga praised the team’s effort and said preparations would now begin for the continental stage.

“The team has worked so hard winning four matches and drawing one. We shall prepare well so that we represent Uganda and CECAFA well at the continental level,” Malinga said.

Uganda and Tanzania claim third-place finishes

The two regional powers also featured prominently in the third-place play-offs.

Uganda defeated Rwanda 2-0 to finish third in the girls’ competition, while Tanzania beat Uganda 2-0 in the boys’ third-place match.

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The results highlighted the strength of the two countries’ school football programmes, with Tanzania appearing on the podium in both categories and Uganda also securing medals in both competitions.

CAF Schools Football Championship rewards school development

The tournament also provided a financial incentive aimed at supporting the development of school football.

Winners in each category received US$100,000, while the runners-up received US$75,000 and third-placed teams received US$50,000.

The prize money is ring-fenced for development purposes within the participating schools.

The approach places school infrastructure and player development alongside competition as key components of the CAF African Schools Football Championship.

For participating countries, the financial support can provide schools with additional resources to develop football programmes and create better environments for young players.

Tanzania and Uganda players dominate individual awards

The tournament also produced a series of individual award winners.

Tanzania’s Debora Salala was named the best player in the girls’ competition, while Uganda’s Vincent Kizza Mawanda collected the boys’ award.

Tanzania’s Rukia Seleman and Uganda’s Stuart Mukasa were voted the best goalkeepers in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively.

Kenya’s Abigael Cheruto finished as the girls’ tournament top scorer after scoring nine goals.

Uganda’s Kennedy Okwi, whose goal secured the boys’ final, was named the boys’ top scorer.

Uganda received the Fair Play Award in the girls’ category, while Burundi won the corresponding award in the boys’ competition.

CECAFA schools tournament provides pathway to continental stage

The Kigali qualifiers form part of the wider CAF African Schools Football Championship, giving young players from the region an opportunity to compete at a higher level while representing their countries.

For Tanzania and Uganda, the regional victories now bring the focus to the continental stage.

Their coaches and players will have to build on their unbeaten campaigns as they prepare to represent the CECAFA region against the best school teams from across Africa.

The tournament’s combination of competitive football, financial support for schools and individual player recognition also reflects CAF’s broader effort to use school football as a platform for talent development across the continent.