A dramatic late turn reshaped the leadership race at the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) on Saturday in Djibouti, as FUFA President Hon. Moses Hassim Magogo withdrew from the presidential contest moments before voting began, paving the way for Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam, President of the Eritrean National Football Federation, to be elected unopposed as the new CECAFA President.
The elective General Assembly had initially attracted three contenders for the vacant seat: Magogo (Uganda), Andemariam (Eritrea), and Alexandre Muyenge (Burundi). However, the contest thinned rapidly even before proceedings formally got underway.
Muyenge confirmed his withdrawal earlier in the day, citing personal reasons, leaving a two-man race heading into the Assembly.
Then came the unexpected twist. As delegates gathered and the meeting commenced, Magogo announced he would also step down from the race, effectively handing the mandate to Andemariam without the need for a ballot.
FUFA delegation at the CECAFA General Assembly in Djibouti comprising of President Hon. @MosesMagogo, VP1 Justus Mugisha and CEO Edgar Watson.#CECAFAAGM pic.twitter.com/1TENeAlqh8
— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) February 7, 2026
The decision was received with mixed reactions in the hall, surprise from some quarters, relief from others, but it ultimately brought the electoral process to a swift conclusion.
Addressing the Assembly, Magogo framed his decision as a deliberate move to prevent division within the region’s football family, which he believes has suffered for years due to internal rivalries and power struggles:
“It is a sad reality that in Africa, we still lag behind in terms of football development and our major hinderance has been the politics that we play. When we were in Juba, South Sudan, I chose to step aside and let my brother Wallace Karia go un-opposed as a CAF Executive Member.”
“I believe, if we go ahead for the ballot, it will only continue to divide us. My brother from Burundi has withdrawn and I’m equally taking the same route. Hopefully, that will save us time and see us moving forward as one group.”
Magogo also used the moment to reflect on the broader challenges facing CECAFA, warning that the region risks being left further behind unless unity replaces rivalry and structural weaknesses are addressed head-on:
“For some of us, CECAFA is our World Cup, our African Cup and the only opportunity we get to compete. When you look at the region, it is about three or four countries that are hosting competitions while some don’t participate at all.”
This year’s elective CECAFA General Assembly is on today in Djibouti pic.twitter.com/gLWVEqBygA
— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) February 7, 2026
With Magogo’s exit, Andemariam was duly endorsed by the Assembly and takes office at a time when CECAFA is grappling with uneven participation, financial constraints, and limited international competitiveness. His election signals a new chapter for the regional body, with expectations that his leadership will prioritize cohesion, development programmes, and broader inclusion of member associations in regional competitions.
CECAFA comprises 11 national football federations: Sudan, Eritrea, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
