CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye and Co-ordinator Herbert Mwachiro during a press conference on Kenya hosting the 2017 Senior Challenge Cup at the Goal project in Kasarani on November 16, 2017. [PHOTO/Citizentv.co.ke]
This year's CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup to be hosted in Kenya has suffered a blow after two nations withdrew from the tournament.
According to the event organisers, Sudan and Somalia wrote expressing apologies for not being able to grace the tournament.
Somalia said they have not been able to pull together a football team due to the internal conflict in the country.
On their part, three-time champions Sudan requested to be left out since their national football league is still running.
Teams that have confirmed attendance include tournament invitees Libya who will be making their maiden appearance in the competition.
Zimbabwe has also been invited to make the list of participants at 10.
Group A of the tournament will have Kenya, Libya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zanzibar while Group B will include defending champions Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe.