Sports

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) has welcomed South Sudan as its new member.

The development was confirmed over the weekend by Cecafa’s secretary general Nicholas Musonye.

South Sudan’s endorsement comes three months after Africa welcomed the world’s newest country to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) according to Musonye.

However, South Sudan will have to wait for at least two years before participating in any major regional competitions.

Musonye added that the decision to endorse the request by South Sudan to join the council was aimed at consolidating unity among the Cecafa member countries.

He said Cecafa will formally welcome the Sudan membership during its general meeting set for November this year in a country yet to be named.

Meanwhile, CAF president Issa Hayatou last week sent ‘warmest congratulations’ to Chabur Gor Alei, who was voted South Sudan Football Association president alongside an executive board. CAF ratified the results of the elections.

South Sudan won independence from Sudan last year. It became the 54th member of Africa’s continental football body in February at CAF’s general assembly in Gabon.

Football’s governing body, FIFA is expected to accept South, Sudan as its 209th member at their annual Congress from May 15-23 in Budapest, Hungary.

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