Teams to arrive on Sunday for continental showpiece

What you need to know:

  • Only Kenya and Zimbabwe will present girls’ teams, while the boys' teams will be pooled in four groups of three teams each playing in a round robin format.
  • The top two teams qualify for the knockout stages.

Teams that will feature in the inaugural Copa Coca Cola Under-16 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament will start arriving in Nakuru on Sunday.

All the teams will be accommodated at Moi Forces Academy, Lanet.

The tournament will be held at Kenya’s oldest national school, Nakuru High.

The 91-year-old school, which was once a colonial exclusive school, will be the next stop for some exciting football from December 10 to 15.

According to one of the organisers, David Ngugi, who is also the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) secretary general, the first team will jet in at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday night.

“It’s all system go for the tournament and at least one of the 12 teams has confirmed it will arrive in the country tonight (Friday),” said Ngugi on Friday.

However, he did not name team.

Twelve countries are expected to grace the tournament that is sure to draw large crowds from football lovers in the cosmopolitan town.

Kenya’s flag bearers will be National Under-16 football champions St Anthony's Boys Kitale in the boys’ section, while in the girls’ category, Moi Girls Nangili will be on show.

Ngugi said all of the matches expect will be played at Nakuru High school, while the the winner will be crowned at Afraha Stadium next Saturday.

Other African countries on parade include Angola, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.

Only Kenya and Zimbabwe will present girls’ teams, while the boys' teams will be pooled in four groups of three teams each playing in a round robin format.

The top two teams qualify for the knockout stages.