The 2021 CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup was 41st edition of the annual CECAFA Cup, an international football competition consisting of the national U-23 teams of member nations of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

[6] The Democratic Republic of the Congo participated as an invited team.

[7] The FIFA World Ranking of participating Men's national football team as of 27 May 2021.

The draw ceremony of the tournament took place on 13 July 2021 15:00 local time in Addis Ababa.

[9] Uganda Tanzania DR Congo Burundi Ethiopia Eritrea Kenya South Sudan Djibouti