Kenya left out of CECAFA 2026 hosting line-up
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 12.03.26. | 21:47
The regional body also revealed that discussions are ongoing with sponsors and partners to secure funding that could see two additional competitions included in the 2026 calendar,
Kenya will not host any of the CECAFA championships this year after the regional football body unveiled the calendar and host nations for its 2026 competitions.
Despite being home to the CECAFA headquarters, Kenya was not allocated hosting rights for any of the six tournaments scheduled for the upcoming season. It remains unclear whether the country submitted bids for the events.
Last year, Kenya staged the CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers, where JKT Queens emerged champions and went on to represent the region in the continental competition.
For the 2026 season, hosting duties have instead been awarded to Tanzania and Rwanda, the only two member associations confirmed to stage the regional events.
According to CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde, Tanzania will host the season-opening CECAFA U-17 Girls Championship scheduled for May 30 to June 14. The country will also stage the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA Qualifiers from August 22 to September 6.
Rwanda, which last hosted a CECAFA competition five years ago, will stage several tournaments, beginning with the CECAFA Kagame Cup from July 18 to August 9. The regional club championship is expected to help teams prepare for the upcoming CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup campaigns.
The country will also host the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers, the CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers, and the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA Qualifiers.
“We are very excited and thank all the different Member Associations who applied to host the different CECAFA competitions,” said Sseninde.
The regional body also revealed that discussions are ongoing with sponsors and partners to secure funding that could see two additional competitions included in the 2026 calendar, the CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship and the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
CECAFA 2026 competitions calendar
CECAFA U-17 Girls Championship: May 30 – June 14
CECAFA Kagame Cup: July 18 – August 9
CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA Qualifiers: July 22 – 25
CAF Women’s Champions League – CECAFA Qualifiers: August 22 – September 6
U-20 AFCON – CECAFA Qualifiers: September 12 – 27
U-17 AFCON – CECAFA Qualifiers: October 10 – 25
Yet to be confirmed
CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship (July)
CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup