Full draw:
Group A: Kenya, Libya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zanzibar
Group B: Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan
Rwanda has been handed a daunting task against hosts Kenya in Group A of the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup due to be staged in Nairobi from December 3 to 17. Amavubi will face the hosts in the opening match.
The draw held Thursday in Nairobi, saw Rwanda placed in Group A, which also has Tanzania, Zanzibar and guest side Libya, who are preparing for the 2018 CHAN finals in Morocco, where Amavubi will also be.
Defending champions, Uganda have been placed in a relatively easy Group B alongside Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia and another guest nation, Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti are the regional nations that will not take part in this year’s edition.
After the opening day, Rwanda will next face Zanzibar on Dec. 5; take on Libya on December 7 before concluding the group stage action with a date against Tanzania on December 9.
Rwanda will use the regional tournament as part of their preparations for next year’s Africa Nations Championship, which will run from January 12 through February 4.
The ten-team regional tournament will be played in Kisumu (Moi Stadium), Kakamega (Bukungu) and Nakuru (Afraha) with Nairobi (Kasarani Stadium) and Machakos (Kenyatta Stadium) acting as stand-by venues.
Antoine Hey’s team will start preparations for the regional tournament on November 26.
In 2015, Rwanda finished second after losing 0-1 to champions Uganda in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Last year, CECAFA failed to stage its two main annual competitions—the Senior Challenge Cup and Kagame Club Championship.
Meanwhile, Kagame Club Championship will be held in April 2018, in Djibouti, according to the CECAFA Secretary General, Nicolas Musonye.
Rwanda will host the CECAFA Women’s Challenge Cup next year, while Burundi will organize the CECAFA U-17 tournament.
Last year’s edition of the CECAFA Women’s Challenge Cup was held in Uganda but Rwanda failed to go past the group stage, losing to Tanzania and Ethiopia respectively.
Challenge Cup 2017 Cecafa Fixtures
Dec. 3: Group A
Libya vs Tanzania
Kenya vs Rwanda
Dec. 4: Group B
Burundi vs Ethiopia
Uganda vs Zimbabwe
Dec. 5: Group A
Zanzibar vs Rwanda
Kenya vs Libya
Dec. 6: Group B
South Sudan vs Zimbabwe
Uganda vs Burundi
Dec. 7
Tanzania vs Zanzibar
Rwanda vs Libya
Dec. 8: Group B
South Sudan vs Ethiopia
Zimbabwe vs Burundi
Dec. 9: Group A
Rwanda vs Tanzania
Kenya vs Zanzibar
Dec. 10: Group B
South Sudan vs Burundi
Ethiopia vs Uganda
Dec. 11: Group A
Libya vs Zanzibar
Kenya vs Tanzania
Dec. 12: Group B
Uganda vs South Sudan
Zimbabwe vs Ethiopia
Dec. 13: Rest Day
Dec. 14: 1st Semi-final
Winner A vs Runners-up B
Dec. 15: 2nd Semi-final
Winner B vs Runners-up A
Dec. 16: Rest Day
Dec. 17
Third-place & Final
“Article Credit: The New Times”