Road to Glory: Two Ugandan Schools Book Slots in CAF Africa Schools Football Championship Qualifiers

Since it’s initiation in 2022, Uganda has been performing well at the CECAFA region and at the final championship with Kawempe Muslim the latest best performer with Bronze.

The CAF Africa Schools Football Championship was introduced in 2022 under the Motsepe foundation with Royal Giant High School and Amus College School becoming first ever Ugandan schools to participate in the competition.

Royal Giant High School won the CECAFA qualifiers in the boys category while Amus College ended as bronze medalists with Fountain Gates emerging as winners in that category.

Unfortunately, Royal Giant High School couldn’t manage to participate at the final championship due to unrevealed circumstances.

Since then the tournament has gained stiff competition right from the zonal level up to the national level here in Uganda

In 2023, Kawempe Muslim won the girls category while St Mary’s Kitende emerged as victors in the boys side in the national qualifiers which were held under the ball games II in Kabale.

In December the same year the two teams embarked on the CECAFA qualifiers journey in Kenya where they both came victorious earning a ticket to represent East Africa at the Final Championship.

In May 2024, the final championship was held in Zanzibar, Tanzania where Kitende’s journey was cut short with a defeat to Tanzania and Senegal’s goalless draw leaving no room for knockouts for the Wakiso based side.

Kawempe Muslim managed to come out as bronze medalists after beating Tanzania 1-0 courtesy of Cynthia Kirenga’s only goal having lost in the semi finals 1-0 against Morocco.

Kawempe who drew with the later champion South Africa and going on to beat Togo and Guinea earlier in the group stages bagged $150k after emerging third.

It should be noted the two bagged 100k$ for emerging CECAFA champions.

After the successful completion of the USSSA Ball Games II 2024, unlike in the boys category where St Mary’s Kitende has retained the title, we shall have a new representative in the girls category.

St Mary’s Kitende retained the title after topping the boys group which was played on a round robin format.

St Mary’s Kitende after receiving their trophy – They are to represent Uganda at the CAF Africa Schools Football Championship Qualifiers (CECAFA Region)

St Noa Girls’ School who will represent Uganda in the girls category beat Kawempe Muslim Secondary School 1-0 in their final game to book ticket.

In the same category, St Noa’s Sharon Abonera, Elizabeth Nabukera, Kawempe’s Huda Aikol were voted MVP, Top Scorer and best goalkeeper respectively.

Kitende and St Noa will aim to keep Uganda’s flag flying high at the CECAFA region where we have proven to be the strong side in this tournament so far.

The dates and host for qualifiers are yet to be released.