Burundi sink Djibouti in U-20 AFCON qualifier

_{Burundi kick started their campaign in the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone with a 5-0 win against Djibouti in a Group A match played on Friday evening.}

_{All the goals were netted in the second half at the Al Hilal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudan.}

_{After a goalless first half Chakib Ali Omar got a one on one chance, but fired straight to the Burundian goalkeeper Papy Habuka after 53 minutes.}

_{Arthur Nibikora put Burundi ahead after 61 minutes with a well taken low shot that beat Djibouti’s goalkeeper Said Mouktar Youssouf. With just a minute after coming on to the pitch substitute Kessy Jordan Nimbona netted Burundi’s second goal after 64 minutes.}

_{Later Nibikora netted two more goals to complete his hattrick, while Alfred Nkurunziza made it 5-0. Djibouti’s Chakib Ali Omar was carried away in an ambulance after an aerial collision with a Burundian player.}

_{Mohamed Meraneh Hassan, the Djibouti coach said his team started well, but got tired in the second half. “This is a young team that lacks experience,” he added.}

_{The Burundi coach Gustave Niyonkuru said although his players failed to find goals in the first half, he is happy they won the match with a big score. “It is good to start a tournament with a big win,” added Niyonkuru.}

_{In the second Group A match played hosts Sudan were held to a goalless draw by South Sudan.}

_{On Saturday reigning champions Uganda will face Tanzania in the only Group B match on card.}