CECAFA Groups:

Group A – Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea.

Group B – DR Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia

Group C – Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti, Zanzibar.

Hosts Uganda has managed to avoid tougher opponents in the 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup draw held on Sunday in Dar Es Salam.

The Cranes, pitted in group A, will face easier teams on paper – Burundi, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Details on format of play are yet to be obtained.

Seven time winners Kenya and 2010 champions Tanzania have been placed together in group C while DR Congo and Sudan are some of the group B teams to look out for. Group B will also produce a fierce derby between Sudan and South Sudan while C will have Zanzibar face parent country TZ.

The flagship event, set to take place in Kampala in December 7-19, will be making it’s return in the country since 2012 when Uganda beat Kenya Harambee Stars to win 2-1 in the final.

Kenya are the defending Champions after winning it on home soil in 2017. The tourney, oldest in Africa, has been held disjointly – missing out in 2018, 2016 and 2014.

Uganda who have won the touney for a record 14 times – 1973, 1976, 1977, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015 – will take pride in hosting the 40th edition.

This will be held concurrent with the CECAFA U17 girls tourney in the currently, with venues to be used include Lugogo, Namboole and Njeru – awaiting official communication.

Rwanda Miss Out

Rwanda’s Amavubi stars will not be coming to Kampala amidst political tensions between the two neighbors.

Rwanda also missed the U20 CECAFA youth championship held recently in Uganda.

As quoted by New Times in Rwanda, Guy Rurangayire, the acting Director of Sports at the Ministry for Sports, claimed that “There is no budget for the competition.”

In 2017, Rwanda were knocked out from the group stage after an abysmal performance.