Cecafa announce Senior Challenge Cup dates

Harambee Stars players celebrate with the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup trophy at Nyayo Stadium on December 12, 2013. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Cecafa Secretary-General Nicholas Musonye said that the association is in the process of getting a sponsor for this year’s edition to ensure that the tournament is a success.
  • Kenya has won the title six times during this period and is the second most successful country in the region.

This year’s edition of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup tournament will be held between November 22 and December 8 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Association confirmed on Thursday.

Cecafa Secretary-General Nicholas Musonye said that the association is in the process of getting a sponsor for this year’s edition to ensure that the tournament is a success.

“Ethiopia have given us the final confirmation that they will host the tournament. We will travel to Addis this Sunday to inspect the stadiums and examine the country’s overall suitability to host the tournament,” said Musonye.

“We are also negotiating with the Ethiopian government as well as the sponsors who took care of the 2006 and 2011 editions to see if they can do it again this year because sponsorship is crucial for such a tournament.”

UGANDA DOMINATE

The draw for the tournament will be held when the inspection is over where the number of teams that will take part in the tournament will be made public.

In 2005 and 2006, the tournament was sponsored by the Ethiopian-Saudi businessman Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi, and was dubbed the Al Amoudi Senior Challenge Cup.

The 2014 edition however failed to take off last year after Ethiopia rescinded their earlier decision to host the tournament at the last minute citing domestic and international engagements.

Harambee Stars are the defending champions of the tournament as they won the tournament in 2013 at the Nyayo National Stadium where they defeated Sudan 2-0 in the final.

Uganda has won the tournament a record 13 times since the formation of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) in 1973, and will start as favourites.

Kenya has won the title six times during this period and is the second most successful country in the region.