DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Sudan ended a 13-year wait for a return to the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating hosts Tanzania on penalties to win the 2027 AFCON CECAFA regional qualifiers in Dar es Salaam.
The Sudanese prevailed 4-3 in the shootout after a dramatic final at Uhuru Stadium finished 1-1 following extra time, securing both the regional title and a place at the continental finals.
The final burst into life during extra time after 90 goalless minutes.
Sudan struck first in the 93rd minute when Omer Hamd headed home to put the visitors ahead.
Tanzania, buoyed by strong home support, refused to surrender. The Ngorongoro Boys eventually found their equaliser in the 112th minute through Abdulnassir Abdallah, forcing the contest into a decisive penalty shootout.
Sudan held their nerve from the spot to complete a memorable campaign and book their return to the U-20 AFCON finals for the first time in 13 years.
“This has been a successful mission for us and I thank my boys for the good job. We qualified for U-20 AFCON and now we have lifted the Cup,” said a delighted Sudan coach Salaheldin Ahmed Nuoreldin Ahmed as quoted by CECAFA X.
Uganda secured the bronze medal earlier in the day after defeating Burundi 2-0 in the third-place play-off.
Derrick Ssozi and Ashraf Kyakuwa scored for Uganda, who finished third in the nine-team regional competition.
The CECAFA qualifiers brought together Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Djibouti, with Sudan and Tanzania emerging as the region’s representatives at the continental U-20 finals.
