Walusimbi scores brace as Gor Mahia qualify for semi-finals of Cecafa Kagame Cup after beating Malakia 2-1 in Tanzania

Gor Mahia’s Godfrey Walusimbi celebrates his goal against Malakia FC with teammate Michael Olunga during the Cecafa-Kagame Cup quarter-final tie at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Godfrey Walusimbi scored a brace as Gor Mahia beat South Sudan champions Malakia 2-1 to qualify for the semi-finals in the on going Cecafa Kagame Cup at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Tuesday.

The Kenyan champions Gor, started the game well when Michael Olunga beat the offside trap on the far right before finding Ugandan import Godfrey Walusimbi to score the opener in the third minute.
Malakia had a chance to equalise in the 13th minute, but David Dada’s flying shot was held firmly by Boniface Oluoch in goal for Gor.

Collins Okoth had himself to blame for not increasing Gor’s tally when he blasted his 10 yard shot over the crossbar. Olunga’s flying header also hit the bar within 20 minutes of play as Malakia remained under siege.
Tanzanian referee Santa Martin booked Mohammed Al Taher for a dangerous play on Meddie Kagere in the 26th minute as Gor Mahia laid siege on Malakia goal.
A minute later, however, Malakia’s Thomas Jacob beat Oluoch with a well taken shot but was unlucky as the ball came off the bar.

Walusimbi added the second goal in the 28th minute after goalkeeper Kennedy Santolino failed to judge well the flight of the ball.

Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall introduced Innocent Wafula, George Odhiambo and Ali Abondo in the second half and rested Erick Ochieng’, Kagere and Olunga while his Malakia counterpart Ramzi Sebit benched Gasin Ibrahim, Mohmoud Taher and Soh Mfomo for Samuel Sskamatte, Clement Bedo and Sadam Peter in an effort to get a goal.

The changes paid off for Malakia as they scored in the 66th minute when Thomas Jacob headed in Wisely Arasa’s throw-in.

The Sudanese calmed down in the closing 20 minutes and put Gor Mahia under pressure but the Kenyan champions stood firm.

Gor Mahia were denied what seemed to be an obvious penalty in the 81st minute after Onguso handled in the box but the referee waved play on.

Coach Nuttall was happy with the win and conceded their opponents were well prepared

“After today’s win we shift the focus to the semi-finals where we will play Khartoum,” Nuttall said.
Sebit blamed his defeat on the referee, saying he was not fair in his officiating.

“We gave our best, but the referee was not on our side,” said a furious Sebit.

Meanwhile, Khartoum stunned pre-match favourites APR of Rwanda 4-0 to romp into the semi-finals in an earlier match.

Khartoum who looked physically strong in all departments opened the floodgates when Atif Khalid picked a loose ball from APR’s box to score in the 11th minute.

Captain Amin Ibrahim dislodged goalkeeper Jean Ndoli to clinically place his shot into the net in the 20th minute for the second goal.

As the match progressed, APR who are last year’s finalist came into the game and some mounted pressure, but their strikers Michael Ndahinduka and Ruhinda Faruk could not penetrate the solid Sudanese defence.