2026 CECAFA U-20 (AFCON U-20 Qualifiers)
- Gold medal match: Sudan 1 (4) – 1 (3) Tanzania
- Bronze medal match: Uganda 2-0 Burundi
Sudan are the champions of the 2026 CECAFA U-20 championship.
A tense 4-3 post match penalty victory over hosts Tanzania spurred Sudan to their first triumph in this age group competition.
Normal time of the final played at the Uhuru stadium in Dar-es-salaam had ended goal-less before the extra 30 minutes were played.
Omer Hamd headed home Sudan ahead in the 93rd minute.
Abdulnassir Abdallah equalized after 112 minutes to send the game into shoot-outs.
Sudan held their nerves to win the dramatic shoot-out 4-3 and lift the trophy with gold medals.
Tanzania, before their home fans settled for silver. Both countries will represent the CECAFA zone at next year’s AFCON U-20 finals in Ghana.
Meanwhile, Uganda Hippos finished third to take home bronze.
Uganda overcame Burundi 2-0 in the third-place play-off duel.
A goal in each half from Derrick Ssozi and super substitute Ashraf Kyakuwa spurred the Hippos who are coached by Ghanaian Laryea Kingston to the much desired victory before a handful of fans.
The Uganda delegation returns home on Friday afternoon.
Team Line Ups:
Sudan XI: Mustafa Mohamed Elgadal Fahoud (G.K), Osama Ameen Abdalla Manzal, Humaida Ahmed Suliman Gumaa, Monzeer Abdo Khmies Tiya, Mutaz Elfaki Elnour Wali, Samaan Amin Alfeil Koda, Rudwan Yahya Mohamed Ishag, Nagmeldin Abdelrahim Teya Toto, Mazin Fadul Albahli Taowr (Captain), Wail Galal Omer Alnour, Obai Abdalla
Subs: Mohamed Abbas Mohamed Abdalla (G.K), Mohamed Dalmugtaba Yagoub Mahmoud Habeeb, Faiz Ahmed Elseed Elfatih, Ibrahim Samani Ibrahim Anglo, Monzer Sarer, Omer Hamd Ghanim Ahmed, Osman Abaker Ismail Alshaikh, Waheed Shandi Somi Elbadri, Mohamed Del Mojtaba Musab Elbadawee
Head coach: Salaheldin Ahmed Nuoreldin Ahmed (Sudan)
Tanzania XI: Shabani Bakari (G.K), Ismail Ally, Abdallah Mnumba, Shomvi Rajabu, Arafat Masoud (Captain), Kelvin Revokatus, Ahmad Ahmad, Jofrey Malecha, Juma Sagwe, Juma Abushiri, Suleiman Suleiman
Subs: Edison Matete (G.K), Roony Gerry, Abubakar Othman, Faraji Kayanda, Bashiri Salum Kibaila, Farid Mzalendo, Machela Machela, Joseph Jr. Joseph, Abdulnasser Abdallah
Head coach: Mario Rivera Campesino (Spain)
Match officials:
- Referee: Nasser Mahamoud Houssein Mahamoud (Djibouti)
- Assistant Referee 1: Elizabeth Njoroge (Kenya)
- Assistant Referee 2: Ashraf Katerega (Uganda)
- Fourth official: Ephrame Debele Kabeta (Ethiopia)
- Commissioner: Amir Hassan (Somalia)
- General coordinator: Francois Regis Uwayezu (Rwanda)
