Kenya to host CECAFA U-18 boys’ tournament in Kakamega and Kisumu

Kenya will host the CECAFA U-18 Boy’s Championship set to take place from 26th November to 9th December 2023 in Kakamega and Kisumu, Mozzart Sport can confirm.

This is after Shelton Amwayi, the Football Kenya Federation Kakamega Branch Chief Executive Officer (CEO) confirmed on Monday that the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was officially confirmed as the hosts of the junior Championship that will kick off later this month.

The news comes in after Kenya missed out on hosting the CECAFA Under 18 Women’s championship that was initially slated for Kenya in June but was later called off with a host of countries pulling out of the prestigious regional tournament.

“CECAFA U18 [Boys] to be hosted in Kakamega and Kisumu from 25th November to 9th December 2023,” announced an excited county football boss.

Contrary to the botched Women’s competition that had a major backlash from other countries in the region that chose not to participate in the annual event, this time nine nations have already confirmed participation.

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CECAFA under 15 hosts Uganda leads a contingent of aspiring footballers set to flock to the country in the near future with Tanzania, Somalia, and Rwanda all set to grace the tournament. Others are Sudan, fast-rising South Sudan, the islands of Zanzibar, and Eritrea.

The County football boss remained optimistic that the tournament will provide an excellent platform for emerging talents to showcase their abilities and compete at an international level.

In addition to the U-18 Boys Championship, Kenya will also host the Zonal qualifiers for the Pan-African Schools Championship. The specific dates for this event are yet to be confirmed for the event slated for December.

"Kenya will host both the CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship between November 25 and December 9 and the Zonal qualifiers for the Pan African Schools Championship later in December," announced CECAFA in a past press release.

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The CECAFA Kagame Cup 2023, however, will not be held this year due to a busy CAF/FIFA calendar, as announced by Auka Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director.

Kenya, which last hosted a CECAFA tournament in 2021, is also set to host the African Nation Championship (CHAN) in September 2024 in addition to African Cup of Nations in 2027

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