CECAFA pledges support for Waberi’s FIFA Council bid

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN: THE Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has officially endorsed Souleiman Hassan Waberi for a position on the FIFA Council in the upcoming CAF elections set for March 2025.

This decision was made during the CECAFA Ordinary General Assembly held in Juba, South Sudan, attended by officials from the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) and representatives from eleven regional Member Associations.

CECAFA President, Wallace Karia highlighted the progress the region has made over the past year and underscored the significance of supporting Waberi, the Football Federation President of Djibouti, in his bid for the FIFA Council.

During the assembly, the Executive Director at Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Auka John Gecheo, presented the competitions report and the zones 2025 calendar.

Key events include the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Competition in Kenya from May 31 to June 7, the CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge, the CECAFA Senior Men’s Challenge Cup and the Dar Port Kagame Cup from August 31 to September 14, which will also serve as qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League.

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Karia expressed gratitude to CAF for its on-going support and reaffirmed the commitment of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to host the CAF African Nations Championship in August 2025, followed by the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.

CAF Member Association Director, Sarah Mukuna, conveyed messages of support from CAF President Patrice Motsepe and General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, commending Karia’s leadership and the regional progress achieved.

The assembly also marked a historic occasion as it was the first CECAFA General Assembly held in South Sudan. CECAFA comprises Member Associations from Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.