The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Swahili: Baraza la Mashirikisho ya Mpira wa Miguu Afrika Mashariki na Kati, French: Conseil des Associations de Football d'Afrique de l'Est et Centrale, Arabic: مؤتمر جمعيات شرق ووسط أفريقيا لكرة القدم, Amharic: የምስራቅ እና መካከለኗኛሙ አፍሪካ እግር ኳስ ማህበራት ምክር ቤት; officially abbreviated as CECAFA) is an association of the football playing nations in mostly East Africa and parts of Central Africa. An affiliate of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), CECAFA is the oldest sub-regional football organisation on the continent.

CECAFA/Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations
Baraza la Mashirikisho ya Mpira wa Miguu Afrika Mashariki na Kati
Conseil des Associations de Football d'Afrique de l'Est et Centrale
مؤتمر جمعيات شرق ووسط أفريقيا لكرة القدم
የምስራቅ እና መካከለኛው አፍሪካ እግር ኳስ ማህበራት ምክር ቤት
Formation1926 (unofficial)
1973 (official)
TypeSports organization
HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
Region served
East Africa
Membership
Official language
Swahili, English, French
Executive Director
Kenya Auka Gecheo
AffiliationsCAF, FIFA
Websitewww.cecafaonline.com

History

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CECAFA was founded unofficially in 1927. The competition was sponsored by the major Nairobi-based soap-manufacturing firm Gossage, owned by the British Lever Brothers. Its formation is often misattributed to William Gossage, founder of the Gossage company. However, he died 50 years before the CECAFA was established.[1]

The tournament was known as the "Gossage Cup" until the mid-sixties, when it was redubbed the "East African Challenge Cup".its consisted of only 12 teams

CECAFA's head offices are in Nairobi, Kenya. The first tournament was contested between Kenya and Uganda, which saw the Kenyan squad win the two legs 3–1 on aggregate.

Member associations

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All associations that joined in 1973 were founding members of CECAFA.

Country Year Governing body
  Burundi 1998 Football Federation of Burundi
  Djibouti* 1994 Djiboutian Football Federation
  Eritrea 1994 Eritrean National Football Federation
  Ethiopia 1983 Ethiopian Football Federation
  Kenya 1973 Football Kenya Federation
  Rwanda 1995 Rwandese Association Football Federation
  Somalia* 1973 Somali Football Federation
  South Sudan 2012 South Sudan Football Association
  Sudan* 1975 Sudan Football Association
  Tanzania 1973 Tanzania Football Federation
  Uganda 1973 Federation of Uganda Football Associations
  Zanzibar 1973 Zanzibar Football Association

* Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) members are marked with an asterisk

Broadcasting rights

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In 2007, television rights for the tournament were sold to GTV.[2] Since 2009, broadcasting of CECAFA competitions has been taken over by SuperSport.[3][4]

Competitions

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Current title holders

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Competition Edition Champions Title Runners-up Next edition Dates
National teams
Senior Challenge Cup 2019   Uganda 40°   Eritrea 2024
U-23 Challenge Cup 2021   Tanzania   Burundi TBD
U-20 Championship 2022   Uganda   South Sudan TBD
U-18 Championship 2023   Uganda   Kenya TBD
U-17 Championship 2022   Somalia   South Sudan 2024
U-15 Championship 2023   Zanzibar   Uganda
CECAFA African School Championship 2023  Royal Giants High School   Geda Roble SS 2029 August
National teams (women)
Women's Championship 2022   Uganda   Burundi 2024
U-20 Women's Championship 2021   Ethiopia   Uganda TBD
U-18 Women's Championship 2023   Tanzania   Uganda TBD
U-17 Women's Championship 2019   Uganda   Tanzania TBD
Girls Schools Championship 2023  FT Fountain Gate  Awaro SS 2023 August
Club teams
Kagame Cup 2021   Express FC   Big Bullets FC 2024 9-21 Jul
Club teams (women)
CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2022   Simba Queens FC 1st   She Corporate FC 2023 12-26 Aug

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "pharmj.com". Archived from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  2. ^ "CECAFA gets a boost from GTV". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  3. ^ Patrick Korir (7 December 2009). "SuperSport airing CECAFA from quarters". Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  4. ^ Timothy Olobulu (29 June 2012). "CECAFA to be aired Live by SuperSport". MichezoAfrika.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
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