AFCON U-20 QUALIFIERS
Semi-final stage set for AFCON U-20 Zonal qualifiers
It is D-Day as the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers take centre stage in Dar es salaam, Tanzania on Friday.
Hosts Tanzania will take to the field first to face 2022 champions Uganda in the first semi-final match at the KMC Stadium, while in-form Kenya battle Burundi in the second match later at the Azam Complex.
Charles Boniface Mkwasa, the Tanzania head coach has made it clear that facing Uganda will not be an easy task because they have a good team. “But we have prepared well and our mission is to win the match and qualify for AFCON U-20 2025,” added Mkwasa.
The coach who admitted that they made a shaky start losing 1-0 to Kenya are now well prepared for the semi-final match. Mkwasa may have to start his leading striker Sabri Kondo who has been starting on the bench, but has netted four goals.
For the Uganda Hippos Coach Matia Lule, he has made it clear that this is a final before a final because the winner will qualify for the AFCON 2025 finals. “We know playing Tanzania I their home is not easy, but my players have prepared and will go all out to do the job,” added Lule who has an experience of coaching teams in Tanzania.
Swedish based John Paul Dembe who has also scored four goals so far is expected to lead Uganda’s search for goals together with Godfrey Sekibengo.
Salim Bab Ndarai, the Kenya coach made it clear that they are ready for the match and their mission is to qualify for the AFCON U-20 2025. “We have been together with these players even at U-18 level and they are hungry to qualify,” added the coach.
The experienced Gustave Niyonkuru, the Burundi coach who was also in-charge of their women’s team at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations made it clear that although they respect the Kenyan team, his players are very determined and ready to fight for the national flag.
Kenya’s leading scorers Kelvin Wangaya and the Spanish based Aldrine Kibet are expected to lead the attack, while Burundi will look to Christophe Ndayikengurukiye and Ramazani Hakizimana.
The finalists will qualify for AFCON U-20 to take place next year in a venue to be announced.
Collected group stage results
Tanzania 1 Kenya 2
Sudan 3 Djibouti 1
South Sudan 0 Burundi 1
Uganda 3 Ethiopia 0
Tanzania 7 Djibouti 0
Sudan 1 Rwanda 0
Uganda 4 Burundi 1
South Sudan 2 Ethiopia 1
Rwanda 0 Kenya 0
Tanzania 1 Sudan 0
Burundi 3 Ethiopia 2
Uganda 2 South Sudan 2
Djibouti 0 Kenya 4
Tanzania 3 Rwanda 0
Sudan 0 Kenya 4
Rwanda 5 Djibouti 1
Kenya have booked the last semi-final slot in the on-going TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Qualifiers.
Going into their last deciding Group A match against Sudan, the Kenyan team went all out to register a 4-0 win in a match played at Azam Complex on Tuesday.
Spanish based striker Aldrine Kibet netted the first hat-trick to guide coach Salim Bab Ndarai to victory. Kibet started it off by finishing well from a corner early in the third minute, and made it 2-0 five minutes going into the interval.
After recess the Sudan team came back strongly before Alothemen Shamseldeen Khalfallah Ahmed had his free-kick punched back by Kenya’s goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala after 58 minutes.
Kelvin Wangaya got his name on the score sheet after 68 minutes, and Kibet completed his hat-trick, his first at International level in the one minute of added time.
“I am very happy with the way my players expressed themselves on the pitch scoring four goals. We now have to focus on preparing for the semi-final match against Burundi,” said a happy Kenya coach Ndarai.
In the second Group A match played at the KMC Stadium, Rwanda humbled Djibouti 5-1, their first win in the tournament. The Rwanda team took a 3-0 half time lead with goals from Jesus Paul Sindi, Didie Ndayishimiye and Pascal Iradukunda.
In the second half Vicky Joseph Petry and Yangiri Yeneza added two more goals for Rwanda, while Djibouti also picked a late goal through Ahmed Hassan.
The semi-final stage games will be played on Friday with Uganda facing hosts Tanzania at the KMC Stadium, while Kenya takes on Burundi in the second match at the Azam Complex. The finalists will automatically qualify for the AFCON U-20 tournament to take place next year.
Hosts Tanzania are the third team to book a place in the semi-finals at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Qualifiers.
Going into the Group A match against Rwanda in need of a win, Tanzania made no mistake stopping their opponents 3-0 in a match played at the Azam Complex on Sunday.
Zidane Sereri gave the home side the lead after only 3 minutes with a well-timed diving header to beat Rwanda’s goalkeeper Fils Francois Habineza.
Rwanda tried to settle and fight back, but their attack of Erirone Yangiriyeneza and Jesus Paul Sindi failed to break through the Tanzanian defending line.
After recess substitute Sabri Kondo netted a brace for the home side to ensure they went top of the group and automatically book a place in the semi-finals.
Charles Boniface Mkwasa, the Tanzania coach was a happy man after the final whistle. “Now I can sleep because I was under a lot of pressure before this match. The boys have played well and we need to prepare for the next stage well enough,” he added.
In an earlier Group A match Kenya maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament with a 4-0 victory against Djibouti. Kelvin Wangaya scored a brace, while Hassan Kitsao and Lawrence Okoth also had their names on the score sheet.
The win sent Kenya to 7 points as they now await the last important match against Sudan (6 points) on Tuesday to decide which team makes it to the last four. Rwanda who are yet to score a goal in the tournament will face Djibouti in their last Group match on Tuesday. Uganda and Burundi are the other teams that have already made it to the semi-final stage.
The best two teams will qualify to represent the Zone at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be played next year.
Burundi are the second team to qualify for the semi-final stage at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
The Burundi team defeated Ethiopia 3-2 in their last Group B match to secure the semi-final slot after finishing with six points to finish second behind Uganda.
Christophe Ndayikengurukiye netted a brace in the first half for Burundi, while Anteneh Beyene and Mikiyas Iwali were also on target as the first half ended 2-2 at the Azam Complex.
The second half produced entertaining football with the two sides creating several scoring opportunities. With the clock ticking away Destin Maniriho beat Ethiopia’s goalkeeper Abyu Ayele after 87 minutes to make it 3-2 for Burundi.
It was all celebration for the Burundi players and officials after the final whistle. “This was a very tough match and I am happy that the team has picked a win and qualified for the final,” said a happy Burundi coach Gustave Niyonkuru.
At the KMC Stadium South Sudan battled back to hold Uganda 2-2 in the second Group B match. Sweden based striker John Dembe netted a quick brace after only 21 minutes, but Emmanuel Swoka pulled one goal back after 32 minutes. Patrick Valentino later punished Uganda’s defending line when he outpaced them and slotted the ball past Uganda’s goalkeeper Abdu Magada at the stroke of full time.
Uganda and Burundi qualified for the semi-final stage with Coach Matia Lule’s team picking seven points, and Burundi six points.
Action will resume on Monday with two Group A matches as Djibouti face Kenya, while hosts Tanzania face Rwanda in what promises to be a thriller.
The best two teams will automatically qualify to represent the Zone at the AFCON U-20 tournament to take place in 2025.
Collected results
Tanzania 1 Kenya 2
Sudan 3 Djibouti 1
South Sudan 0 Burundi 1
Uganda 3 Ethiopia 0
Tanzania 7 Djibouti 0
Sudan 1 Rwanda 0
Uganda 4 Burundi 1
South Sudan 2 Ethiopia 1
Rwanda 0 Kenya 0
Tanzania 1 Sudan 0
Burundi 3 Ethiopia 2
Uganda 2 South Sudan 2
Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Boys have defeated Sudan 1-0 to move top of Group A at the on-going TotalEnernies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers.
In a very entertaining match which saw both sides display good football, substitute Sheikhan Khamis netted the lone goal after 75 minutes to ensure Tanzania collected maximum points at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.
Earlier Tanzania’s Valentino Kusengama and Zidane Sereri also had their efforts saved by the Sudan goalkeeper Mohammed Abdalla Ibrahim. After conceding the Sudan team tried to push forward to try and level matters, but failed to find the goals.
The win sends Tanzania top of Group A with the same points as Sudan with two wins each and one defeat for each of the teams.
Charles Boniface Mkwasa, the Tanzania coach praised his players for the hard work which saw them collect maximum points. “The players gave their best and we are happy to register our second win now,” added Mkwasa.
In an earlier Group A match played at the KMC Stadium Rwanda and Kenya settled for a goalless draw.
Action returns on Friday with 2022 champions Uganda who have already qualified for the semi-final stage taking on South Sudan, while Burundi battle Ethiopia in Group B matches.
Collected results
Tanzania 1 Kenya 2
Sudan 3 Djibouti 1
South Sudan 0 Burundi 1
Uganda 3 Ethiopia 0
Tanzania 7 Djibouti 0
Sudan 1 Rwanda 0
Uganda 4 Burundi 1
South Sudan 2 Ethiopia 1
Rwanda 0 Kenya 0
Tanzania 1 Sudan 0
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