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CECAFA

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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 ቤት ምኽሪ ማሕበራት ኩዕሶ እግሪ ምብራቕን ማእከላይን ኣፍሪቃ
Formation1926 (unofficial)
1973 (official)
TypeSub confederation
HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
Region served
East Africa Horn of Africa
Membership
Official language
Swahili, English, French
President
Eritrea Paulos Weldehaimanot
AffiliationsCAF, FIFA
Websitewww.cecafaonline.com

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, Somali: CECAFA/Guddiga Kubadda Cagta Bariga iyo Bartamaha Afrika,Tigrinya: ቤት ምኽሪ ማሕበራት ኩዕሶ እግሪ ምብራቕን ማእከላይን ኣፍሪቃ 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 Address/Location

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History

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The competition that would later evolve into CECAFA began in 1926 with the establishment of an annual match known as the Gossage Cup, making it the oldest international football tournament in Africa. The first recorded contest took place that year, with Kenya emerging victorious over Uganda in a replay after the initial match ended in a draw.[1]

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.[2]

Tanganyika (present-day mainland Tanzania) joined in 1945, and Zanzibar followed in 1949, expanding the field to four participating teams over time.[1]

The tournament was known as the "Gossage Cup" until the 1960s, when it was redubbed the "East African Challenge Cup". This version of the tournament continued until 1971, after which the competition was reconstituted under the banner of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. The organizational body was formally established as a regional football association in 1973.[3]

CECAFA's head offices are in Nairobi, Kenya, under the governance of the Council, which is affiliated with both CAF and FIFA.[3][4]

Member associations

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

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

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

New members

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Somaliland Football Association plans to join CECAFA with FIFA membership In coming years

Broadcasting rights

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In 2007, television rights for the tournament were sold to GTV Since 2009, broadcasting of CECAFA competitions has been taken over by South Africa Broadcaster SuperSport

Kit Manufacturing

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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 TBD
U-23 Challenge Cup 2021  Tanzania  Burundi TBD
U-20 Championship 2024  Tanzania  Kenya TBD
U-18 Championship 2023  Uganda  Kenya TBD
U-17 Championship 2025  Tanzania  Uganda TBD
U-15 Championship 2023  Zanzibar  Uganda
CECAFA African School Championship 2023 UgandaRoyal Giants High School Ethiopia Geda Roble SS 2024
CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship 2025[5]
National teams (women)
Women's Championship 2022  Uganda  Burundi TBD
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 TanzaniaFT Fountain Gate EthiopiaAwaro SS TBD
Club teams
Kagame Cup 2024 Zambia Red Arrows Rwanda APR FC TBD
Club teams (women)
CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2024 Ethiopia CBE F.C. 1st Kenya Kenya Police Bullets 2025

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "East and Central African Championship (CECAFA)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
  2. ^ "pharmj.com". Archived from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  3. ^ a b "Senior Challenge Cup – CECAFA FOOTBALL" (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-26.
  4. ^ "About Us – CECAFA FOOTBALL" (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-26.
  5. ^ https://cecafaonline.com/cecafa-beach-soccer-championship-to-open-2025-season-in-mombasa/
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