The 1981 CECAFA Cup was the 9th edition of the tournament. It was held in Tanzania, and was won by Kenya. The matches were played between November 14–28.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Tanzania |
| Dates | November 14–28 |
| Teams | 8 (from CECAFA confederations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Kenya (2nd title) |
| Runners-up |  Tanzania |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Goals scored | 39 (2.44 per match) |
← 1980 1982 → | |
Somalia withdrew before the tournament.
