Defending champions Uganda will face South Sudan and Djibouti in Group B of the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Girls’ Championship following Thursday’s draw at the FUFA Complex in Mengo.
The Teen Cranes will open their campaign against South Sudan as they chase a second regional title after their 2019 triumph under coach Ayub Khalifah.
The tournament will be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from June 13 to 23, with seven nations confirmed for this year’s edition.
Hosts Tanzania lead Group A alongside Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan, and will play Kenya in the opening match of the tournament.
Uganda’s group has only three teams, meaning every match will carry extra weight in the race for semifinal places.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the last four, while the losing semifinalists will contest the third-place playoff.
The championship remains one of CECAFA’s key youth competitions, giving young players across the region a platform to gain experience at international level.
CECAFA is also expected to organise several other tournaments this year, including the Kagame Cup and the regional qualifiers for the CAF U-17 and U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Group Stage Draw
Group A: Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan
Group B: Uganda, South Sudan, Djibouti
