27 November 2011
Nations competing for the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup that got underway this week in Tanzania are using the tournament to prepare for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Ten member nations of Cecafa and two guest sides Malawi and Namibia are in Dar es Salaam for the tournament, which is enjoying a $450,000 four year sponsorship from Serengeti Breweries through their Tusker brand. The presence of Sudan, who have qualified for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, will definitely add spice to the 34th edition of the regional championships.
The pre-qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup to be staged in Brazil ended two weeks ago and Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda have made it to the group stages of the qualifiers. Cecafa secretary Nicholas Musonye says these countrys will be using the competition to sharpen their skills ahead of the main rounds of qualifiers.
Kenya meets Togo in the pre- qualifying stage of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup, Ethiopia takes on Benin, Rwanda plays Nigeria, Uganda face off with Congo Brazzaville, Burundi clash with Zimbabwe and Cecafa Senior Challenge champions Tanzania are lined up against Mozambique some time in March next year.
And as the senior challenge kicked off, The EastAfrican brings you brief sketches of the participating nations.
Kenya: Within Cecafa the country is seen as one of the strongest sides in the region, having participated in the Africa Nations Cup five times before.
Uganda: The most successful nation in the competition with 11 titles, it has emerged as a strong side and the best ranked in the region.
Ethiopia: With four wins in the Senior Challenge, this country is the third most successful side in the history of the cup.
Sudan: The only country from the Cecafa region to have lifted the African crown, it is also the only nation in the bloc to have qualified to the 2012 Nations Cup.
Tanzania: They are the hosts and defending champions and will be expected to put up a good performance given they are playing at home.
Rwanda: Not a very successful nation compared with the rest of the region but with the backing of President Paul Kagame, it have been improving slowly.
Somalia: Champions in 1989, they have continued to participate in the Senior Challenge and in club competitions. Zanzibar: The tiny island is the only participant not affiliated to the Confederation of African Football and world soccer governing body Fifa.
Burundi: Little can be written of this country. They have never won the regional title nor put up a serious challenge save for 2004 when they reached the finals only to lose 3-0 to hosts Ethiopia.
Djibouti: Considered the whipping boys alongside Somalia. They have been inconsistent participants in the competition and have had little success. Malawi: A member of Cecafa until the late 1990s they will be using it to prepare for the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers and 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Namibia: They will be participating for the first time in this competition.
The groupings:
Group A: Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Djibouti
Group B: Uganda, Burundi, Zanzibar, Somalia
Group C: Sudan, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia
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