KAMPALA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) have indicated that they will invite guest sides to the 2024 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.
Auka Gecheo, Executive Director of the regional body, told Xinhua on Tuesday that guest teams would be invited.
"The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is the biggest tournament in our Zone for the senior national teams and this time we want to make it very big since it returns after it was last held in 2019," said Gecheo.
The 2024 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup will take place from June 29 to July 14 in Zanzibar. Uganda are the defending champions after having defeated Eritrea in the 2019 final.
"This tournament will also help national teams in the Zone to prepare well ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and the African Nations Championship qualifiers," added Gecheo.
Edgar Watson, Chief Executive of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), also told Xinhua he was happy that the Senior Challenge Cup has returned. "This tournament is very good because it will give our technical bench [a chance] to try out many aspects before qualifiers for bigger competitions," he added.
Gecheo also revealed that Uganda will host Africa Cup of Nations U-17 Zonal qualifiers in December, while Tanzania will host Africa Cup of Nations U-20 Zonal qualifiers in October.
He added that the Zone will also stage the CAF Women's Champions League Zonal qualifiers and the CECAFA U-20 Women's Championship in Ethiopia, while the Africa Schools Football Championship Zonal qualifiers will take place in Zanzibar. ■
