Harambee Stars face exit: Kenyans must beat Tanzania to reach semis of Cecafa

CECAFA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2017- MACHAKOS Kenya Coach Paul Put during CECAFA senior challenge cup 2017 against Libya at Kenyatta Stadium,Machakos on Tuesday 05/11/17[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Local boys frustrated as they fail to score once again while Zanzibar book slot in last four

Kenya’s qualification hopes in the semi-finals of the 2017 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup are hanging by a thread after Harambee Stars were frustrated to a barren draw by Zanzibar Heroes in Sunday’s Group A match in Machakos.

The result saw Zanzibar sail through to the last four with a game to spare as they are currently at the top of the group with seven points, two ahead of Kenya, who face Tanzania in a must-win game tomorrow.

Harambee Stars’ progress will also depend on the result between Zanzibar and third-placed Libya, whom they drew with on Thursday.

“We had a fast first half, we gave a lot and created good chances but failed to do that in the second half. I cannot say that I am not disappointed with the result,” said Paul Put, the Stars coach.

“We are still second in the group, what we need is to continue believing in ourselves and we will make it. We defended very well, but our main undoing was finishing. We didn’t have many options today, because one of our main strikers (Masoud Juma) is out injured. If we don’t finish off our chances, then I think we will be in problems.”

Kenya earned the first free kick in the fourth minute but Patillah Omoto’s effort was cleared by Zanzibar defence before Jockins Atudo and Kepha Aswani’s attempts were saved.

Zanzibar’s Mudathie Abass then miscued his effort in the tenth minute just after a free kick had been cleared to safety by Stars defence.

Kenya had a chance in the 15th minute but Ovellah Ochieng’s cut back in the box was cleared by Issa Dau as the tempo of the game increased.

In the 23rd minute, Aswani saw his free header from Ovellah’s corner kick go over the bar before Atudo’s header also went wide.

CECAFA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2017- MACHAKOS Kenya's Patilah Omoto(L) and Khalid Almaryami of Libya battle for ball possession during the CECAFA senior challenge cup at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Tuesday 05/11/17.They draw 0-0[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

A few moments later, Patillah Omoto forced a fine save from Zanzibar goalkeeper Mohamed Abdurahman after Aswani was fouled at the edge of the box..

Kenya continued piling pressure in the second half and they were close to scoring in the 65th minute, but Wyvonne Isuza’s on-bound effort at the edge of the box was blocked.