CECAFA: Tanzania, Sudan qualify for 2027 CAF U-20 AFCON

Hosts Tanzania and Sudan have secured qualification for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after winning their respective semi-finals at the CECAFA regional qualifiers in Dar es Salaam.

Tanzania defeated Burundi 2-0 at the Uhuru Stadium on Tuesday, while Sudan edged Uganda 3-2 in a five-goal thriller to claim the two qualification places reserved for the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) zone.

The results set up a final between Tanzania and Sudan on Thursday, while Burundi and Uganda will meet in the third-place play-off.

Tanzania, the defending CECAFA U-20 champions, continued their impressive campaign with another clean-sheet victory.

Juma Abushiri put the hosts ahead in the first half before Faraji Kayanda doubled their advantage to give Tanzania a commanding 2-0 lead at the interval.

Burundi, who had won both of their group matches without conceding, pushed forward after the break but could not find a way past goalkeeper Shabani Bakari and the Tanzanian defence.

The victory extended Tanzania’s perfect run in the competition.

They had earlier defeated Rwanda 3-0 and Ethiopia 4-0 in Group A, scoring nine goals without conceding in their three matches.

Burundi had also impressed during the group stage, beating South Sudan 4-0 and Kenya 2-0, with captain Amini Nshimirimana scoring four goals in those matches.

Sudan’s qualification came after a dramatic comeback against Uganda.

Richard Okello gave Uganda an early lead in the seventh minute, but Sudan responded three minutes later through Rudwan Mohamed.

Waheed Shandi then put Sudan ahead shortly after halftime before Uganda levelled through Derick Ssozi.

Mazin Taowr settled the contest in the 82nd minute, completing Sudan’s turnaround and sending them into the continental finals. Sudan had reached the semi-finals as the best second-placed team after finishing behind Uganda in Group B.

The CECAFA qualifiers featured nine teams divided into three groups: Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia in Group A; Uganda, Sudan and Djibouti in Group B; and Burundi, Kenya and South Sudan in Group C.

The group winners and the best runner-up advanced to the semi-finals, with the two finalists earning qualification for the 2027 continental tournament.

The TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in Ghana between February and March 2027.

All matches in the CECAFA qualifiers have been played at the renovated Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, with the tournament running from September 15 to 24.

Photos

• Sudan vs Uganda