ETHIOPIA HAS pulled out as hosts for this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup tournament and a replacement will be announced next week, Saturday Sport has learnt.

According to the Cefaca secretary general, Nicholas Musonye, they have already started talks with Sudan to host the event, which is scheduled for later this month.

"We have initiated talks with Sudan and by next week we shall be in position to announce, who will host the tournament,” Musonye told Saturday Sport from Nairobi in a phone interview.

He added: "Ethiopia have written to us confirming that they will not be in a position to stage the tournament. We have accepted their withdrawal and are now working on getting a replacement.”

Musonye added, "Ethiopia’s pulling out does not mean that the tournament will not go ahead. Our plans still remain and dates will remain unchanged. We had several countries, including Sudan on standby.”

Next year’s edition will be held in Rwanda. Kenya’s Harambee Stars won last year’s tournament after beating Sudan 2-0 in final played at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.