Kenya crash out of Cecafa tourney
The Kenya Under-17 team prior to their Cecafa Championship semi-final match against Tanzania on April 25, 2018 at Stade Umuco in Muyinga, Burundi. PHOTO | COURTESY |
What you need to know:
- The southern neighbours fought right back into this game and their efforts were eventually rewarded when Juma Mtoo equalised after 23 minutes.
- After a series of misplaced passes and missed chances from both teams, Kevin Paul netted what turned out to be the winning goal after stealing the ball from Kenya's defence line and powering a shot past Brian Olango.
Kenya was bundled out of the Cecafa Under-17 Championship in Burundi following a 2-1 semi-final loss to Tanzania on Wednesday.
Eventually, this contest which was played at the brand new Stade Umuco in Muyinga, turned out to be a tale of two halves, but then, the physically imposing Kenyans went on to finish second best.
Kenya drew first blood on eight minutes when Isaiah Abwal handed the Mike Amenga - led side the opening goal.
Give credit to the skilled, swift and committed Tanzanian lads however.
The southern neighbours fought right back into this game and their efforts were eventually rewarded when Juma Mtoo equalised after 23 minutes.
After a series of misplaced passes and missed chances from both teams, Kevin Paul netted what turned out to be the winning goal after stealing the ball from Kenya's defence line and powering a shot past Brian Olango.
This results ensures Tanzania progress to the final of this developmental competition, which is funded by the sport's world governing body Fifa, where a tie against surprise package Somalia, who defeated Uganda by a solitary goal in the other semi-final contested at the Stade Igoma in Gitega, lies in wait.
Kenya will play Uganda in the bronze medal match on Saturday.
Caf President Ahmad Ahmad is expected in Burundi to grace the finale set for Sunday.
Kenya meanwhile, finish this tournament with a solitary win over Ethiopia, draw against the hosts and losses to Somalia and Tanzania.
At the same time, Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye has given a thumbs up to the preps ahead of the Cecafa Women's Challenge Cup which kicks off in Rwanda next month.
The veteran administrator made the assessment after visiting Kigali earlier in the week and meeting Rwanda Football Federation president Rtd. Brigadier Gen. Sekamana Jean Damascene.
"Rwanda are ready, they always are anyway. I have never had problems with Rwanda when in comes to preparations and supporting football. We staged a very exciting competition in Jinja last year and I am certain we will see better football this year," said Musonye.
"Rwanda is trying to develop football and our mission is to ensure we have a good championship and support women football with help from our government, Cecafa, Caf and Fifa," added Sekamana.
Tanzania are this tournament's reigning champions having surprisingly beaten Kenya 1-0 in last year's final.
