2011 CECAFA Cup

2011 CECAFA Cup
CECAFA Tusker Challenge Cup 2011
Tournament details
Host country	Tanzania
Dates	25 November – 10 December
Teams	12 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)	2 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions	Uganda (12th title)
Runners-up	Rwanda
Third place	Sudan
Fourth place	Tanzania
Tournament statistics
Matches played	26
Goals scored	62 (2.38 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Meddie Kagere ; Olivier Karekezi ; Emmanuel Okwi ; (5 goals each)
Best player(s)	Haruna Niyonzima
	← 2010 2012 →

Last updated July 16, 2025

The 2011 CECAFA Cup was an international football competition consisting of East and Central African national teams. It was the 35th edition of the annual CECAFA Cup. The tournament was hosted by Tanzania for the second consecutive year and seventh time overall.^[1]

The tournament received Sh823 million (approximately $450,000) sponsorship from Serengeti Breweries Limited which covered the fees of the tournament such as the air tickets of all delegates, accommodations and prize money to name a few.^[2] The competition was therefore known as the CECAFA Tusker Challenge Cup 2011.

Participants

The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) General Secretary Nicholas Musonye said that over 10 football associations applied to play as a guest team in the tournament.^[3] Out of all the applicants, the final shortlist was trimmed to four; Côte d'Ivoire, Malawi, South Africa and Zambia.^[4] However the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stated that Côte d'Ivoire and Zambia were not eligible to play in the competition as they had qualified for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Teams are not able to compete in another competition within a two-month period of the Africa Cup of Nations.^[5]

The invitation was eventually extended to Malawi.^[6] However, it was then reported that they withdrew, citing financial constraints and lack of preparation time due to the late invitation.^[7] Zimbabwe had then been invited to replace them but the Malawian government told the Football Association of Malawi to reconsider their participation in the tournament as they along with CECAFA will shoulder their expenses.^[8]

Eritrea were initially scheduled to participate but withdrew due to lack of funds and were replaced with Namibia. It was suggested by some media outlets that Eritrean authorities were mindful of players attempting to seek political asylum whilst in Tanzania.^[9] Namibia eventually turned down the invitation, stating that it would disrupt the Namibia Premier League schedule.^[10] They were replaced by Zimbabwe.^[11]

Squads

Group stage

All times are East Africa Time (EAT) – UTC+3

Key to colours in group tables
	Group winners, runners-up and two best third-placed teams advanced to the quarter-finals

Group A

Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Rwanda	3	3	0	8	2	+6	9
Zimbabwe	3	2	1	4	3	+1	6
Tanzania	3	1	2	4	3	+1	3
Djibouti	3	0	3	2	10	−8	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

26 November 2011

16:00

Tanzania	0–1	Rwanda
	Report	Karekezi 22'

Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar es Salaam

Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)

27 November 2011