Nine teams for CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA qualifiers

📅 August 31, 2026 • 👤 Kabuma Node • 📁 AFCON U-17 • 🕑 2 min read

Nine teams have registered to take part in the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.

The regional qualifier will take place September 16-30^th,2026 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager confirmed that the nine teams have entered, and only Eritrea and Somalia will miss out.

“The draw for the competition will take place on August 31^st at the Kigali Pele Stadium in the Rwanda capital Kigali at 10.30am. We shall have three groups with three teams each. The top team in each group and the best second placed team from any group will qualify for the semi-final stage,” added Mossi.

He further explained that the best two teams will qualify to represent the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Tanzania are the defending champions after defeating Kenya 2-1 in the final during the 2024 Zonal qualifiers held at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam.