Introduction

The CECAFA Cup, formerly the Gossage Cup (1926–1966) and the East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup (1967–1971), is described as the oldest football tournament in Africa. It is organized by the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

Cup history

The CECAFA Cup is the successor competition of the Gossage Cup, held 37 times from 1926 until 1966, and the East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup, held between 1967 and 1971.

In 2005 and 2006, the tournament was sponsored by the Ethiopian-Saudi businessman Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi, and was dubbed the Al Amoudi Senior Challenge Cup.

In August 2012, CECAFA signed a sponsorship deal worth US$450,000 with East African Breweries to have the cup renamed to the CECAFA Tusker Challenge Cup.

Previous winners

Gossage Cup (1926–1966) and Challenge Cup (1967–1971)

The Gossage Cup and Challenge Cup was contested between Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar (Only in 1953 Ruanda-Urundi was competed too). The first match was played between the Kenyan and Ugandan national teams in May 1926, with Kenya winning 2–1 in a replay. Tanganyika participated since 1945 and Zanzibar since 1949. The tournament was sponsored by the soap manufacturer Gossage, owned by the British Lever Brothers. In 1967, the competition was renamed to the East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup.

Tanzania fields two national teams, Tanzania and Zanzibar, which is a holdover due to Zanzibar's independence until it merged with Tanzania in 1964.

CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup

With the formation of CECAFA in 1973, the tournament was renamed to the CECAFA Cup. For the 2021 edition, the tournament was renamed the CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup, and has reverted to CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup afterwards again.

Key
†Tournament not held or not officially recognised
‡Title was shared between both teams competing in the final / Match was won on a penalty shootout
#YearHostFinalThird place play-offTeams
WinnersScoreRunners-upThird placeScoreFourth place
Gossage Cup
11926KenyaKenya2–1UgandaOnly 2 teams2
—1927Not held due to hosting dispute†
21928UgandaUganda4–0 or 1–0KenyaOnly 2 teams2
31929KenyaUganda5–3KenyaOnly 2 teams2
41930UgandaUganda5–0KenyaOnly 2 teams2
51931KenyaKenya2–1UgandaOnly 2 teams2
61932UgandaUganda13–1KenyaOnly 2 teams2
—1933Not held†
—1934Not held†
71935UgandaUganda5–1KenyaOnly 2 teams2
81936KenyaUganda3–1KenyaOnly 2 teams2
91937UgandaUganda9–5KenyaOnly 2 teams2
101938KenyaUganda3–1KenyaOnly 2 teams2
111939UgandaUganda5–2KenyaOnly 2 teams2
121940KenyaUganda6–3KenyaOnly 2 teams2
131941UgandaKenya4–3UgandaOnly 2 teams2
141942KenyaKenya4–3UgandaOnly 2 teams2
151943UgandaUganda2–1KenyaOnly 2 teams2
161944KenyaKenya2–1UgandaOnly 2 teams2
171945UgandaUganda4–1KenyaTanganyikaOnly 3 teams3
181946KenyaKenya2–1UgandaTanganyikaOnly 3 teams3
191947TanganyikaUganda4–2TanganyikaKenyaSharedZanzibar[1]4
201948UgandaUganda2–1KenyaTanganyikaSharedZanzibar[1]4
211949ZanzibarTanganyika2–0KenyaUgandaSharedZanzibar[1]4
221950KenyaTanganyika2–1KenyaUgandaSharedZanzibar[1]4
231951TanganyikaTanganyika3–2KenyaUgandaSharedZanzibar[1]4
241952UgandaUganda6–3KenyaTanganyikaSharedZanzibar[1]4
251953ZanzibarKenya6–2UgandaTanganyikaSharedZanzibar[1]5
261954KenyaUganda4–1KenyaTanganyikaSharedZanzibar[1]4
271955TanganyikaUganda5–1TanganyikaKenyaSharedZanzibar[1]4
281956UgandaUganda3–2KenyaZanzibar3–2Tanganyika4
291957ZanzibarUganda2–1KenyaTanganyikaShared (3–3)Zanzibar4
301958KenyaKenyaRound robinUgandaTanganyikaRound robinZanzibar4
311959TanganyikaKenyaRound robinZanzibarTanganyikaSharedUganda4
321960UgandaKenyaSharedUgandaTanganyikaRound robinZanzibar4
331961KenyaKenyaRound robinTanganyikaUgandaRound robinZanzibar4
341962various venuesUgandaRound robinTanganyikaKenyaRound robinZanzibar4
351963KenyaUgandaRound robinKenyaTanganyikaRound robinZanzibar4
361964TanzaniaTanzaniaRound robinKenyaUgandaRound robinZanzibar4
371965UgandaTanzaniaRound robinKenyaUgandaRound robinZanzibar4
381966ZanzibarKenyaRound robinUgandaTanzaniaRound robinZanzibar4
Challenge Cup
39/11967KenyaKenyaRound robinUgandaZanzibarRound robinTanzania4
40/21968TanzaniaUgandaRound robinKenyaTanzaniaRound robinZanzibar4
41/31969UgandaUgandaRound robinTanzaniaKenyaRound robinZanzibar4
42/41970ZanzibarUgandaRound robinTanzaniaZanzibarRound robinKenya4
43/51971KenyaKenyaRound robinUganda[2]Tanzania[2]Round robinZanzibar4
CECAFA Cup
44/11973UgandaUganda2–1TanzaniaKenyaSharedZambia[1]6
45/21974TanzaniaTanzania1–1*[A]UgandaZambiaSharedZanzibar[1]6
46/31975ZambiaKenya0–0*[B]MalawiTanzaniaSharedUganda[1]6
47/41976ZanzibarUganda2–0ZambiaKenyaSharedMalawi[1]7
48/51977SomaliaUganda0–0*[C]ZambiaMalawi2–1Kenya7
49/61978MalawiMalawi3–2ZambiaKenya2–0Uganda5
50/71979KenyaMalawi3–2KenyaTanzania2–1Zanzibar7
51/81980SudanSudan1–0TanzaniaMalawi1–0Zambia7
52/91981TanzaniaKenya1–0TanzaniaZambia1–0Uganda8
53/101982UgandaKenya1–1*[D]UgandaZimbabwe3–0Zanzibar7
54/111983KenyaKenya1–0ZimbabweUganda2–1Malawi9
55/121984UgandaZambia0–0*[E]MalawiUganda3–1Kenya8
56/131985ZimbabweZimbabwe2–0KenyaMalawi3–1Uganda6
—1986Not held (initially Somalia but later withdrew)
57/141987EthiopiaEthiopia1–1*[F]ZimbabweUganda2–0Zanzibar7
58/151988MalawiMalawi3–1ZambiaKenya0–0*[G]Zimbabwe8
59/161989KenyaUganda3–3*[H]MalawiKenya1–0Zambia8
60/171990ZanzibarUganda2–0SudanTanzania2–1Zanzibar7
61/181991UgandaZambia2–0KenyaUganda3–1Sudan7
62/191992TanzaniaUganda1–0Tanzania BZambia4–0Malawi9
—1993Not held (Initially Uganda but later withdrew)
63/201994KenyaTanzania2–2*[I]UgandaKenya1–0Eritrea8
64/211995UgandaZanzibar1–0Uganda BKenya2–1Ethiopia8
65/221996SudanUganda1–0Sudan BSudan1–1*[K]Kenya7
—1997Not held (CECAFA suspended)
—1998
66/231999RwandaRwanda B3–1KenyaRwanda0–0*[L]Burundi12
67/242000UgandaUganda2–0Uganda BEthiopia1–1*[M]Rwanda9
68/252001RwandaEthiopia2–1KenyaRwanda1–0Rwanda B11
69/262002TanzaniaKenya3–2TanzaniaRwanda2–1Uganda10
70/272003SudanUganda2–0RwandaKenya2–1Sudan8
71/282004EthiopiaEthiopia3–0BurundiSudan2–1Kenya9
72/292005RwandaEthiopia1–0RwandaZanzibar0–0*[N]Uganda10
73/302006EthiopiaSudan0–0*[O]ZambiaRwanda0–0*[P]Uganda11
74/312007TanzaniaSudan2–2*[Q]RwandaUganda2–0Burundi11
75/322008UgandaUganda1–0KenyaTanzania3–2Burundi10
76/332009KenyaUganda2–0RwandaZanzibar1–0Tanzania12
77/342010TanzaniaTanzania1–0Côte d'Ivoire BUganda4–3Ethiopia12
78/352011TanzaniaUganda2–2*[R]RwandaSudan1–0Tanzania12
79/362012UgandaUganda2–1KenyaZanzibar1–1*[S]Tanzania12
80/372013KenyaKenya2–0SudanZambia1–1*[T]Tanzania12
—2014Not held (initially Ethiopia but later withdrew) §
81/382015EthiopiaUganda1–0RwandaEthiopia1–1*[U]Sudan12
—2016Not held (initially Sudan, then Kenya but both later withdrew) ≠
82/392017KenyaKenya2–2*[V]ZanzibarUganda2–1Burundi9
—2018Not held (initially Zanzibar, then Kenya but both later withdrew)
83/402019UgandaUganda3–0EritreaKenya2–1Tanzania9
—2020Cancelled (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup
84/12021EthiopiaTanzania0–0*[W]BurundiSouth Sudan1–0Kenya9
CECAFA Cup
85/412024

§ The 2014 CECAFA Cup would have been the 38th edition of the Cup. It was scheduled to take place in Ethiopia from 24 November to 9 December, but the nation withdrew from hosting the tournament in October due to "domestic and international engagements", according to CECAFA secretary-general Nicholas Musonye. Musonye also announced that Sudan as one of the countries that could have replaced Ethiopia as the hosts of the tournament. After none of the 12 member nations of CECAFA expressed an interest in hosting the tournament on short notice, it was announced on 27 November that CECAFA had cancelled the competition. Rwanda hosted the 2015 edition of the competition. ≠ The 2016 CECAFA Cup was to be the 39th edition of the annual CECAFA Cup. In September 2016, it was confirmed that Kenya would host the tournament. Originally, it was slated to be hosted in Sudan. In November 2016, Kenya announced they are not ready to host the tournament and CECAFA officials are looking to persuade Sudan to take over as hosts. In December 2016, CECAFA announced the 2016 edition of the tournament will be canceled.

Notes

  • 1 ^ – From 1945 to 1955 and 1973 to 1976 there was no third place play-off and both teams eliminated in the semi-finals were acknowledged as the third-placed team.
  • 2 ^ – In 1971 2nd place shared between Uganda and Tanzania.
  • A ^ – Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes. Tanzania won the shoot-out 5–3.
  • B ^ – Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Kenya won the shoot-out 4–3.
  • C ^ – Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Uganda won the shoot-out 5–3.
  • D ^ – Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes. Kenya won the shoot-out 4–3.
  • E ^ – Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Zambia won the shoot-out 3–0.
  • F ^ – Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes. Ethiopia won the shoot-out 5–4.
  • G ^ – Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Kenya won the shoot-out 3–2.
  • H ^ – Score was 3–3 after 90 minutes. Uganda won the shoot-out 2–1.
  • I ^ – Score was 2–2 after 90 minutes. Tanzania won the shoot-out 4–3.
  • K ^ – Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes. Sudan won the shoot-out 5–4.
  • L ^ – Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Rwanda won the shoot-out 3–2.
  • M ^ – Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes. Ethiopia won the shoot-out 5–3.
  • N ^ – Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Zanzibar won the shoot-out 5–4.
  • O ^ – Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Zambia won the shoot-out 11–10, but Sudan were given the title as Zambia were invited as guests.
  • P ^ – Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes. Rwanda won the shoot-out 4–2.
  • Q ^ – Score was 2–2 after 90 minutes. Sudan won the shoot-out 4–2.
  • R ^ – Score was 2–2 after 90 minutes. Uganda won the shoot-out 3–2.
  • S ^ – Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes. Zanzibar won the shoot-out 6–5.
  • T ^ – Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes. Zanzibar won the shoot-out 6–5.
  • U ^ – Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes. Ethiopia won the shoot-out 4–3.
  • V ^ – Score was 2–2 after 120 minutes. Kenya won the shoot-out 3–2.
  • W ^ – Score was 0–0 after 120 minutes. Tanzania won the shoot-out 6–5.

Summary

FIFA (A-level match rule). FIFA (B teams results, Ruanda-Urundi results, Rwanda results before 1978, Burundi results before 1972, All of Zanzibar results, Kenya results before 1960, Uganda results before 1960 and Tanzania results before 1964) are not counted as A-level match (All of them are unofficial before membership in FIFA). But this table consist of all matches.

1926–1966

RankTeamPartTop4PldWDLGFGADifPts
1Uganda3838000000+00
2Kenya3838000000+00
3Tanzania2222000000+00
4Zanzibar202041443337141–10416
24Ruanda-Urundi10100119–80

1967–1971

RankTeamPartTop4PldWDLGFGADifPts
1Uganda551511223110+2135
2Kenya55157353218+1424
3Tanzania55155462225–319
4Zanzibar551521121041–317

1973–2019

RankTeamPartTop4PldWDLGFGADifPts
1Uganda3832000000+00
2Kenya3727000000+00
3Tanzania3615000000+00
4Zanzibar3510000000+00
6Ethiopia258000000+00
7Malawi2111000000+00
8Sudan2612000000+00
9Zambia2112000000+00
10Zimbabwe115000000+00
11Rwanda2312000000+00
12Rwanda B21000000+00
13Burundi145000000+00
15Eritrea102000000+00
5Somalia25076686234191–15726
23Uganda B2210703138+521
14Ivory Coast B11640273+412
20South Sudan4013238722–159
22Tanzania B11522152+38
21Sudan B11521244+07
18Libya10413010+16
17Kenya B20611438–54
16Djibouti11035023319139–1202
19Seychelles206006516–110

Medals (1926–2023)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Uganda (UGA)40161571
2Kenya (KEN)21311365
3Tanzania (TAN)9121738
4Ethiopia (ETH)4026
5Malawi (MAW)33410
6Sudan (SUD)3339
7Zambia (ZAM)25512
8Rwanda (RWA)16411
9Zanzibar (ZAN)121720
10Zimbabwe (ZIM)1214
11Burundi (BDI)0202
12Eritrea (ERI)0101
Ivory Coast (CIV)0101
14South Sudan (SSD)0011
Totals (14 entries)858482251

Notes:

  1. From 1926 to 1944 there was no 3rd place because of only 2 teams.
  2. From 1947 to 1955 there was no 3rd place match and 3rd place shared.
  3. 1957 and 1959 third place shared.
  4. From 1973 to 1976 there was no 3rd place match and 3rd place shared.
  5. 1960 1st place shared.
  6. 1971 2nd place shared.

See also

Sources

External links