Burundi have become the second team to announce their withdrawal from the upcoming 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Qualifiers, forcing a change to the group draw conducted just two weeks ago.In an official statement on Sunday 8 December, CECAFA confirmed that Football Federation of Burundi General Secretary Manirakiza Jeremie had tendered the withdrawal, citing “issues to do with eligibility of players.”Burundi pulls out of TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiershttps://t.co/F9GDiC42q3 pic.twitter.com/MT7k2GnEre— Cecafaonline (@Cecafaonline) December 8, 2024 In a departure to previous years, this year’s competition, as per CAF guidelines, is set to use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests for the players before they travel to Uganda, in what is seen as a strategic move to curb age-cheating.Burundi now appear to be the first culprits, at least as per their statement which read: “We regret the withdrawal of the U-17 team from the CECAFA U-17 tournament in Uganda. The decision was reached after some players were found ineligible according to the report sent by the team of CAF doctors after earlier Magnetic Resonance Imaging tests were conducted.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8555139##With the move, Burundi joins Ethiopia as the two teams to have withdrawn after the draw for the competition.Last Monday night, Ethiopia, through their Chief Executive Officer Bahiru Tilahun, officially withdrew from the qualifiers as a result of “unforeseen budgetary constraints.”“On behalf of the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF), I regret to inform you that our U-17 Boys National Team will not be participating in the upcoming AFCON U-17 CECAFA Zone qualification tournament,” Tilahun stated.Michubu penalty the difference as Bidco register first-ever victory over Gor MahiaAnd since the withdrawal of both sides leaves Group A with only two teams – Uganda and Tanzania – CECAFA Competitions Director Yusuf Mossi made it clear on Sunday that one more team “will be moved from Group B to make it three teams for each group.”That would leave either Kenya, led by coach Salim Babu, Somalia, South Sudan or Sudan joining Group A.Kenya to face defending champions Somalia in U17 AFCON Qualifiers
