The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, the oldest football tournament in Africa, has been dormant for the past four years, leading to concerns about its future. The tournament, which has historically played a vital role in promoting regional unity and competition, has not been held since 2020. This absence has sparked growing questions about the tournament’s relevance and future prospects.
Auka Gacheo, the Executive Director of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), acknowledged the concerns but explained that the lack of the tournament’s presence is due to several significant challenges. Gacheo, who has been in the role for nearly five years, noted that organizing such an event involves more than just scheduling; it requires adequate infrastructure and the availability of all necessary resources, which has proven difficult for many member associations.
The issue of bidding to host the tournament, according to Gacheo, is complex and involves far more than just agreeing on dates. It requires suitable facilities, financial backing, and the capacity to meet the logistical demands of hosting a major international competition. Gacheo emphasized that while some member associations may have the ability to host the tournament, the overall capacity of the region to consistently hold the event has been a major barrier.
One of the key reasons for the absence of the tournament is the increasingly congested football calendar. Gacheo explained that the rising competitiveness of football in the region, alongside the growing participation of member nations in high-profile tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, has placed significant strain on the resources of national teams and football associations. The packed schedules of these tournaments have made it difficult to find a window in the calendar that would allow the Senior Challenge Cup to be hosted without conflicting with other major events.
This issue has been compounded by the financial pressures faced by many of CECAFA’s member associations. With nations already investing heavily in qualifying campaigns for global and continental tournaments, there is little room left in their budgets for additional competitions. The financial burden of competing in multiple tournaments has made it challenging for countries to prioritize the Senior Challenge Cup.
Gacheo also highlighted logistical and academic conflicts as additional factors affecting the tournament’s scheduling. The varying academic calendars across different countries in the region have disrupted age-grade competitions, further complicating the task of organizing the Senior Challenge Cup. Many countries have been unable to field their best teams due to these conflicts, making it even harder to find a suitable time for the tournament.
Despite these challenges, Gacheo remains optimistic about the future of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. He suggested that one potential solution could be to adopt a format similar to the UEFA Nations League. This approach would offer a more structured and flexible scheduling model, allowing for the tournament to be held during periods when there are no conflicting qualifiers. By adopting this format, CECAFA could ensure that the Senior Challenge Cup remains an important competition for the region, while also accommodating the busy schedules of the member associations.
The UEFA Nations League-inspired format would allow teams to compete in a more organized and predictable manner, avoiding the chaos of overlapping qualifiers and tournaments. Gacheo expressed hope that with strategic planning and cooperation among member nations, the tournament could be revived and continue to serve as a platform for regional football development.
CECAFA has already seen success with similar strategies in other competitions. For example, the Kagame Club Cup has been restructured as a preseason tournament, helping clubs prepare for both domestic and continental campaigns. This approach has proven effective, and Gacheo believes a similar model could work for the Senior Challenge Cup.
While the road to reinstating the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is fraught with challenges, there is a clear commitment from CECAFA’s leadership to ensure that the tournament’s legacy endures. With careful planning and collaboration, there is hope that the tournament will soon return to the regional football calendar, giving East and Central African nations an opportunity to compete in one of the continent’s oldest and most prestigious competitions.
