Stars reach last 8: Kenyans whip Zanzibar to make Cup quarters

BY BEN AHENDA IN NAKURU

Kenya and Ethiopia cruised into the quarter-finals of this year’s edition of Council for East and Central Africa (Cecafa) Senior Challenge Cup after winning their last matches against Zanzibar and South Sudan respectively at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, yesterday.

Kenya defeated Zanzibar 2-0 as Ethiopia walloped South Sudan by the same margin in the first two international matches to be held at the refurbished facility in 13 years.

Harambee Stars and Ethiopia’s Waliya Antelopes have tied at top spot with seven points from three matches with each scoring five goals against one, subjecting the winners of the Pool  A to be decided by a toss of the coin.

Kenya were held to a barren draw by Ethiopia in their opening match and thereafter smashed South Sudan 3-1 in the second encounter at Nyayo national Stadium on Saturday.

Having drawn with Kenya, Ethiopia also dismissed Zanzibar 3-1 in their second match before defeating South Sudan 2-0 last evening.

Yesterday, Kenya displayed some good football, which thrilled hundreds of fans who jammed the stadium with the home team earning their opening goal from a penalty converted by Joakins Atudo following an infringement inside the box.

After the goal, the Zanzibaris terrorised the Kenyan territory with fierce shots from captain Awadh Juma Musa that caught goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng’ most times on the wrong footing.

The visitors almost gifted with an equaliser  in the 31st minute when Masoud Ali Musa dribbled past Kenyan defence and passed the ball to Kassim Suleiman who hit the side net.

At some point, Harambee Stars midfield appeared confused, thereby overworking the defence.

This allowed the Zanzibar Heroes to dominate in the last stages of the first half until Stars coach Adel Amrouche introduced Clifton Miheso and David King’atua for Noah Wafula and Francis Kahata respectively that changed the match tempo.

future team

It resulted in Allan Wanga netting the second goal in the 60th minute amid thunderous cheers from their fans.

Amrouche was not impressed by the victory, but he said he is using the tournament to build a team for the future.

“We are in this tournament to build a team for the future,” he told FeverPitch.

Zanzibar tactician Salum Baus Nassor blamed the defeat on officiating.

“Poor officiating on two matches against Kenya and Ethiopia denied us a chance to advance further into the tournament,” he said.

 On their part, South Sudan stretched Ethiopia in the first half to force a barren draw before the Waliya Antelopes took control in the second half.

Their (Ethiopia) opening goal came from Yousuf Yassin in the 54th minute as second half substitute Birul Kalbore beat the Sudanese offside trap to slam home the second goal in the 83rd minute.

team detained

Ethiopian coach Sewnet Bishaw was impressed by the performance of his charges after they romped into the quarters.

“We came to win the title and nothing will stop us,” Bishaw said.

Meanwhile, Burundi national team coach Lotfi Mohamed Nessem was left furious after his team was locked up at their hotel on yesterday ahead of their Senior Challenge Cup match against Tanzania today, reports Gilbert Wandera.

The coach said his players were denied exit by the hotel management who insisted that they pay their bills before leaving for Nakuru even though they were to come back after their match.

“We have been here since noon trying to leave and efforts to get organizers to sort out this issue have been fruitless. We are wondering why the other teams were allowed to leave us behind yet our match is the first one.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice-chairman, Robert Asembo, said the matter has been  resolved and the team will be allowed to leave in the morning for Nakuru.