January 23 – African regional confederation CECAFA (Council of East and Central African Football Associations) has given its 11-member backing to Djibouti FA president Hassan Waberi Soleiman (pictured) in his candidacy for an African seat on the FIFA Council.
Sekafa Vice President Waberi will stand in CAF elections on March 12 in Egypt.
At the SEKAFA General Assembly in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, support for Waberi was overwhelming.
“Mr. Waberi is the only candidate from the CECAFA region, he has all our support to secure the FIFA Council seat,” Ethiopian Football Federation President, Isaias Zira Bosho said in his address to the General Assembly on Wednesday, adding that the sub-confederation was united behind Waberi.
Cecafa President Wallace Karia confirmed Cecafa’s commitment to support Waberi, while Somali Football Federation President, Ali Abdi Mohamed, praised Waberi’s contribution as CAF Vice President. “We throw all our support behind Mr. Waberi,” he said as he joined Waberi’s chorus.
While politics was about Waberi’s progress towards the FIFA Council, football’s focus was on the 2025 development program and the sanctioning of the competition.
The Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup will return in 2025 after a five-year hiatus, although the host nation is yet to be announced. The last Challenge Cup was held in Kampala, Uganda in 2019.
2025 will also see the Cecafa Kagame Club Cup hosted in Tanzania, while Congress has approved an annual schedule for its U17 championship.
A regional beach soccer tournament will debut in Kenya from late May to early June, while Cecafa said a women’s champions league, women’s U17 and schools tournaments for boys and girls will also be organized in 2025.
CECAFA called on countries to host these events and bid with government guarantees.
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