Harambee Stars have relinquished their Cecafa Senior Challenge title after suffering a humiliating 4-1 loss to minnows Eritrea in yesterday’s semi-final match, at Lugogo Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.
Kenya went into the encounter as favourites after qualifying for the last four with an unbeaten run.
However, the lowly-ranked (205) Red Sea boys, who finished second in Group A behind hosts Uganda, had other ideas giving the 106th ranked Stars a reality check.
It was not the performance Francis Kimanzi had expected on his return to the touchline after serving a two-match suspension.
Captain Robel Kidane was the hero of the day, hitting a brace with Abel Okbay and Michel Habte scoring one goal each to secure arguably Eritrea’s first ever Cecafa final ticket in their history.
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Kenya’s lone goal was netted by Ulinzi Stars forward Oscar Wamalwa, his third of the tournament, eight minutes into the second half.
Eritrea will meet either Uganda or Tanzania in the finals tomorrow.
Stars looked disjointed from on set with Kidane opening the floodgates in the 20th minute when he beat goalkeeper Samuel Odhiambo with a close range effort following a quickly taken corner kick.
Okbay then doubled the lead for Eritrea four minutes into the second half after he unleashed a powerful long range shot that flew past a hapless Odhiambo.
Four minutes later, Wamalwa pulled a goal back for the deposed champions.
However, the hard-fighting Eritrea responded in the 67th minute through substitute Habte’s effort before Kidane completed Stars’ routing with his second of the day in the 73rd minute.
