CECAFA Cup: Burundi beats Somalia 4-1, Uganda defeats Zanzibar 2-1

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Burundi beat Somalia 4-1 as the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup kicked off in Tanzania on Friday.

This year’s tournament is featuring Zimbabwe, who have replaced Namibia after the latter initially accepted an invite before pulling out of the two-week finals.

Zimbabwe are not complete strangers to the oldest regional tournament in Africa, having lastly played in the CECAFA Cup in 1990 before joining the southern African region COSAFA Cup in 1997.

The Warriors have been pooled in Group A alongside defending champions Tanzania, Rwanda and Djibouti – with this group getting underway on Saturday.

But Group B began the tournament on Friday, as Burundi defeated Somalia before Uganda beat Zanzibar 2-1.

Group C is comprised of Sudan, Kenya and Malawi, another guest team.

This year’s tournament received financial boost from a local beer company, who dished out some US$500,000 to help fund the tournament.

The money will be used to pay for return tickets for all participating teams, as well as accommodation, local transport, other administrative requirements and prize money.

With all the competing teams having missed out on the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, save for finalists Sudan, CECAFA provides an opportunity to the regional national teams a chance to win silverware.

Meanwhile, Tanzania FA boss Leodegar Tenga has retained his seat as chairman of the region’s football government body.

At the CECAFA congress in Dar es Salaam, the former Tanzanian international sailed through unopposed after his opponent from Djibouti failed to turn up for the election. 

Today‘s results:

Burundi 2-1 Somalia

Uganda 2-1 Zimbabwe

Source: BBC