CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup
Al Hilal, Red Arrows pick maximum points in Group B
Sudan Premier League champions Al Hilal and guest side Red Arrows FC kick started their Group B campaign with wins in the on-going CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024.
Handled by experienced coach Florent Ibenge, Al Hilal defeated ASAS Djibouti Telecom FC 2-0 in the first match played at the Azam Complex Chamazi on Wednesday night.
Skipper Mohamed Abdelrhman Yousif gave Al Hilal the lead after 22 minutes with a well taken strike giving the ASAS Djibouti Telecom goalkeeper Kwame Baah no chance. After five minutes Yousif scored his second day.
The Djibouti team that will play in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup returned to play a highly defensive approach to deny Al Hilal more goals. “I am happy we have started well in the tournament scoring two goals and picking three points. But we need to keep improving as the tournament gets to the crucial stages,” says Al Hilal coach Ibenge.
In the second tense match Zambia Premier League champions Red Arrows FC picked a 1-0 win against Gor Mahia FC from Kenya.
After a goalless first half, it was substitute James Chamanga who capitalized on a poor clear by the Gor Mahia defenders to give Red Arrows FC the lead. Gor Mahia also pressed forward, but did not look decisive in the final third.
Gor Mahia’s new Brazilian coach Leonardo Neivas said although they lost the opening match, there is still a lot of work to be done. “This was my first match in-charge since I joined the team and there are things that I have to try and change and improve as well,” added Neivas.
The Red Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe says he was impressed with the attitude of his team in the win over Gor Mahia. “We now need to prepare for the second match,” added Mbewe.
The regional tournament which kicked off on July 9th with 12 teams will climax on July 21st with the best team picking a cash prize of US$30,000, the runner-up US$20,000 and the third placed US$10,000. The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame supports the tournament with US$60,000 specifically for the cash prize.
The other partners who have supported the tournament this year include; Dar Port through the Tanzania Ports Authority, Sudan Football Association (SFA), Azam TV and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF).
Action continues on Friday with four matches on card. Tanzania’s Coastal Union SC will face Zanzibar’s JKU SC, while Hay Ala Wadi (Sudan) take on Dekadaha FC (Somalia) in Group A matches at the KMC Stadium.
SC Villa, the three time regional champions will also return to action against Singida Black Stars FC, while APR FC (Rwanda) battle El Merriekh Bentiu FC (South Sudan) in Group C matches at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.
Group B standing
P W D L GF GA A Pts
Al Hilal 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
Red Arrows 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3
Gor Mahia 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
Djibouti Tele 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0