Three Zonal Presidents are set to grace the non-elective General Assembly of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA)
By Liam Josh
South Sudan Football Association will host the East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) today (Wednesday).
This is the first time in history that South Sudan is hosting such a prestigious ordinary general assembly.
Three Zonal Presidents are set to grace the non-elective General Assembly of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), with more than 50 members of the Assembly attending the event at the Imperial Plaza Hotel in Juba.
Auka John Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director confirmed that President of WAFU A, Bajo Lamin Kaba, President UNIFAC, Maolas Jean Guy Blaise and the Vice President of WAFU B Gasua Ibrahim Musa will attend the Assembly as guest, said CECAFA in a statement.
Apart from the Presidents and General Secretaries of the 12 CECAFA Member Associations who will grace the Assembly, CAF will also be represented by the Head of Member Associations, Sarah Mukuna and Genan Muhamed, the statement added.
“President of the Niger Football Federation, Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, two officials from FIFA, and a representative from CECAFA broadcast partners AZAM TV will also attend. President of the African Clubs Association (ACA), Said Hersi Ally will also grace the Assembly,” CECAFA noted in a statement.
The Assembly will discuss several aspects including CECAFA competitions for 2024 and the 2025-2026 calendar.
CECAFA under the leadership of Wallace Karia as the President has 12 members; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan and Zanzibar.
South Sudan has showed its potential in sports to the world, attracting the attention of some of the world’s football leaders. In 2016, the country played host to FIFA President Gianni Infantino who visited and watched the match between South Sudan and Benin. Infantino was the first FIFA president to visit ythe country.
Last year (2024), the country hosted the Presidents FIFA and CAF, during the official opening of Juba National Stadium.
Speaking at the press conference in Juba yesterday, Albino Kuek, the spokesperson of SSFA, says the event is a privilege and historic for South Sudan as the host.
According to Andrew Jackson Oriada, CECAFA Communication’s and Marketing Officer, stressed that CECAFA does not force any football association to host its events. Oriada highlighted that the country’s football association’s head, Augustino Maduot, showed interest in hosting the assembly.
Oriada expressed gratitude for the hospitality South Sudanese showed the delegation.