New format for CECAFA Four Nations Tournament after Sudan's withdrawal
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 16.07.25. | 08:10
All four teams will field squads composed exclusively of home-based players in preparation for the CHAN tournament
The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has announced the withdrawal of Sudan from the upcoming CECAFA Four Nations Tournament, scheduled for Monday, 21 to Sunday, 27 July at Karatu Stadium in Arusha, Tanzania.
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Sudan has now been replaced by Congo Brazzaville as a guest team, with the central African nation also using the tournament as a build-up for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Originally, the tournament was part of preparations for East African teams participating in CHAN. It was initially set to feature hosts Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan.
However, Sudan has opted out to focus on its domestic league, which recently kicked off.
Auka John Gacheo, CECAFA's Executive Director, emphasised that the tournament serves as a crucial warm-up for CHAN, replacing the previously proposed CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
“The primary objective of this competition is to offer our zonal teams a valuable platform to prepare adequately ahead of the African Nations Championship scheduled for August 2025,” Gacheo told CECAFA Media.
With Congo Brazzaville stepping in, the format of the tournament has also been adjusted. Initially, the tourney was set to follow a knockout format, with Tanzania facing Kenya and Uganda playing Sudan.
The winners of the two opening knockout matches would have met in a final, while the losers would have battled it out in a third-place match.
However, the revised format adopts a round-robin structure where each team will play three matches. The team with the highest points at the end will be declared the winner.
Harambee Stars will begin their campaign against the Uganda Cranes, while hosts Tanzania will face Congo Brazzaville both on Monday, 21 July.
Match Day Two on Thursday, 24 July, will feature Congo Brazzaville against Uganda and a clash between hosts Tanzania and Kenya.
The final matchday on Sunday, 27 July, will see Kenya take on Congo Brazzaville, while Uganda battles Tanzania.
All four teams will field squads composed exclusively of home-based players in preparation for the CHAN tournament, which will be co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania from Saturday, 2 to Saturday, 30 August 2025.
Fixtures
July 21
Kenya vs Uganda
Tanzania vs Congo Brazzaville
July 24
Congo Brazzaville vs Uganda
Tanzania vs Kenya
July 27
Kenya vs Congo Brazzaville
Uganda vs Tanzania
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