By Keke Roy,

It is only a matter of hours before the start of the region’s CECAFA football showpiece. The fans and players alike are excited about the start of the tournament with the hopes of total football extravaganza. However, this comes at a time when the football gods only smiled to Uganda Cranes for making it to the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying group stage. The others were bundled out in the second round with some being spectators for failure to impress in the first round. Tanzania faced the biggest casualty, going down by 7 goals to nil against the North African giants Algeria. Yes, I just said 7-nil! This shows that the east African region will once again miss out in the world’s most followed sporting tournament if Uganda follows suit. A sad note to be proud of if you experience the orgasmic effects as I usually do. Anyway, the CECAFA tournament will be another chance to forget about the dismal performance and here is the preview of what to expect.

Pre-Tournament Favorites

Kenya

Kenya remains the team to beat and one of the pre-tournament favourites by virtue of being the defending champions. Harambee Stars boast of the young talents in the team, such as Michael Olunga, Eric Johanna, Omar Mbongi, Kevin Amwayi and Ndirangu John who have been impressive in the Kenyan Premier League this year. It is apparent that the team will step out with guns blazing as they seek to retain the title. The only obstacle between lifting the crown and retaining it is the group stage that comprises of Uganda, Burundi and Zanzibar.

 Uganda

The 13-time champions Uganda Cranes are in fine form and seek to extend the regional dominance by lifting the crown. The team is the only country in the tournament that advanced to the World Cup qualifying group stages, having beaten Togo on 4nil aggregate. The team is a strong side with technical players and a tactical coach in Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević. The Cranes has always produced remarkable players in the tournament and will be out to display their worth as the best team in the region. It is important to state that Uganda is also the highest ranked team in the region at position 68.

Ethiopia

The Walias are the third ranked team in the tournament with 4 titles in their docket. Ethiopia being the host team will be a strong side to beat because of the home advantage favor. The country has also had good runs in the recent past, which might still play to their advantage as they face the regional powerhouses.

Sudan

The Sudan national team is a new force to reckon with, being the last team in the region to have participated in the continental showpiece in 2008. This is the only CECAFA Team to have won the AFCON in 1970 when they hosted the tourney. The technically gifted team comprises of young players who are impressing in other leagues across the continent. Sudan might turn out to be the “Black Horse” of the tournament because of the players who recently took part in the semi- finals CAF Club championships. Most of the Sudanese players come from Al-Merrikh and Al-Hilal, the two teams that did better in this year’s CAF Club championships and Confederations cup respectively.

 Grudge Matches:

Sudan V South Sudan

A number of matches will bring bitter rivals to face-off during this year’s CECAFA tournament. As the norm, grudge matches are always electrifying and full of sideshows before, after and during the game. An instance is the Group C encounter that will rekindle the political and ethnic rivalries between Sudan and their younger detached “brothers” South Sudan. This match is one of the a-must-to-watch games since it is their first time the two sides are meeting after the secession in 2005. The South Sudan side yet to win a match in the CECAFA and this might be their ample time to secure valuable three points.

Kenya vs Uganda

This has always been an electrifying match dubbed the “Elgon Derby,” or ‘Migingo Derby” and produces tactical and technical aspects of the two sides. The match will be explosive because of two Ugandan players (Khalid Aucho and Geofrey Walusimbi) who ply their trade at Kenya’s Gor Mahia. The two sides will fight for the control of Group H as they are among the pre-tournament favorites and the strongest teams. It shall be a battle of supremacy in the midfield between Gor’s Collins Okoth and Khalid Aucho and Teddy Akumu against Baba Kizito (both Formerly of Gor). In another twist, Kenya’s coach Bobby Williamson is the immediate former Ugandan Cranes coach and claims of understanding Ssebo’s style of play. As the Swahili people would put it, hii ni ya kukata na shoka.

Tanzania vs Zanzibar

Who does want a Swahili language-dominated match between Tanzania and Zanzibar? However, the only stage the two sides might face-off is in the quarter finals is they assume opposite qualifying positions (assume Tanzania are number one in Group A while Zanzibar are two in Group B). The players in the two countries play in either leagues and have a similar style of play. The match shall be another “brotherly-grudge” game because of the same political affairs between the Sudanese sides. As the ink dries in this pen, let us wait for the regional games to commence tomorrow.

The writer is a local football enthusiast who claims to know something, but in the real sense knows nothing! I am here to learn.

Twitter: @IAmKekeRoy

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com