The regional tournament, scheduled for December 6â€"9, 2025, will bring together ten countries from the East and Central African region as they vie for places in next year's continental finals for school-based teams.
Rwanda is among the nations fielding both boys' and girls' squads. The teams left Kigali early on Thursday, December 4, 2025, ahead of the CAF African Schools Championship CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers.
Before departure, Louise Ndengeyingoma, Chairperson of the Governance and Legal Commission at FERWAFA, encouraged the young players to aim high and uphold discipline.
'You carry the national flag on your chest,' she said. 'Approach your matches with focus, display discipline, and remember to balance your education with your talent. This journey is not just about winning a single game; it is about raising Rwanda's profile.'
The boys' tournament will feature Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Somalia.
The girls' competition will include Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan.
The qualifiers will also feature young referees participating under CAF's talent development programme and will include D-level coaching clinics.
IGIHE
