South Sudan: Nation Faces Long Way to Cecafa Events

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Majuto Omary

13 July 2011

Dar es Salaam — The newly formed nation, South Sudan, has indicated its intention to participate in this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, but their dream might not materialise owing to membership issues.

Nicholas Musonye, the secretary general of the regional soccer controlling body (Cecafa), said yesterday that South Sudan will be ineligible unless it gains both Caf and Fifa memberships.

“We are happy to have a potential member, but their participation in the Senior Challenge Cup will depend on their Caf and Fifa status,” said the outspoken official. It usually takes a while before a new country is sanctioned by the Fifa and Caf.

Zanzibar, a provisional member of the latter since 2007, is recognised by Cecafa as an independent state. “We only have four months before the championship kicks off and it’s unlikely that South Sudan will have already got the nod from the two bodies,” Musonye said.

At present, the Cecafa region comprises 11 countries namely: North Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Zanzibar, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Tanzania mainland.

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