The national U20 team ‘Ngorongoro Heroes’ coach, Boniface Mkwasa has expressed confidence in his team’s preparations for the upcoming U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) – CECAFA Qualifiers.

The tournament is set to take place from October 6th to 20th in Dar es Salaam and will feature nine teams, competing across three venues.

The venues are Azam Complex, KMC Complex and Major General Isamuhyo Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The two top teams from the tournament will secure their spots in the 2025 Under-20 AFCON final scheduled for next year.

Tanzania is placed in Group A alongside Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti and Kenya, while Group B includes Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and Ethiopia.

According to the tournament regulations, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the finalists earning automatic berths to the2025 AFCON finals.

Mkwasa acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting as quoted by Daily News: “We are in a tough group, which requires us to undergo rigorous training to reach the semi-finals and ultimately the finals. In football, anything is possible and good preparation is key to success. So far, everything is progressing positively.”

He emphasised the importance of the home advantage, stating saying: “Since the qualifiers are being held in our country, we need to show our commitment by performing well in every match.

“We respect all the teams in our group; they are competitive, but we also have a strong team that is not easy to beat. The players are eager to achieve success in the upcoming qualifiers.”