CECAFA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP: Abdallah scores to lead Kenya past Tanzania

Defending champions Kenya went top of Group B at the on-going 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup after picking a 1-0 win over Tanzania on Sunday at the StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo. Hassan Abdallah scored the lone goal after only four minutes when he slotted the ball past Tanzanian goalkeeper Aishi Salum Manula.

The Kenyan team continued to dominate the game, but failed to increase their lead. Tanzania also had substitute Eliuter Herman Mpepo waste two chances as he fired wide.

Kenya’s goalscorer Abdallah and Tanzania’s duo Cleophace Mkandla and Kelvin Patrick Yondani were all booked for bad fouls.

“We are happy to start the tournament with a win,” said Kenya’s captain Joash Onyango after the game.

Tanzania’s coach Juma Mgunda said they will have to go back to the drawing board to plan for the second game after losing to Kenya.

In the earlier Group B game Sudan fought back from a goal down to hold 10-man Zanzibar Heroes to a 1-1 draw.

Abdulaziz Makame Makame gave Zanzibar the lead after 55 minutes, before substitute Montasir Osman Yahia leveled matters late for Sudan.  Zanzibar captain Bakhit Khamis was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

Zanzibar will also have to thank their goalkeeper Suleiman Ahmed Ali who saved Salah Emadeldeen’s penalty after 30 minutes.

Group B standing

P     W    D     L      GF     GA    A   Pts

Kenya       1      1      0      0      1        0        1     3

Sudan       1      0       1      0      1        1        0    1

Zanzibar   1      0       1      0      1        1        0    1

Tanzania  1      0      0       1      0        1      -1    0