Uganda Hippos striker John Dembe has been crowned the top scorer at the just-concluded TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Dembe’s impressive performance throughout the tournament saw him net six goals, earning him the prestigious award.
The young forward, who currently plays for BK Hacken in Sweden, capped his tournament with a brace in Uganda’s 3-1 victory over Burundi in the third-place playoff on Sunday.
His contributions were vital in helping the Hippos secure the bronze medal, despite missing out on qualification for the 2025 U-20 AFCON.
“I am very happy to have emerged as the top scorer in this tournament. As a striker, I am very proud of my achievement,” Dembe said after receiving his accolade.
His six-goal tally placed him ahead of Tanzania’s Sabri Kondo, who finished with five goals.
Kondo, however, did not leave empty-handed. He was named the tournament’s Best Player after leading Tanzania to victory over Kenya in the final.
Kenya’s goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala was also recognised, being voted the Best Goalkeeper, while Kenya picked up the Fair Play Award.
The CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, which spanned two weeks, attracted nine teams: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Djibouti.
Tanzania and Kenya emerged as the top two teams, with the former being crowned champions, both nations earning spots in the 2025 U-20 AFCON.
