CECAFA Kagame Cup 2021: Nyasa Big Bullets hold 10-man Young Africans SC

Guest side Nyasa Big Bullets FC have held a 10-man Young Africans SC side to a 1-1 draw as the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2021 kicked off in Tanzania today.

The home side took the lead after only 7 minutes at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Junior Waziri put Nyasa Big Bullets’ Miracle Gabeya on pressure and the defender nodded the ball past his goalkeeper for an own goal.

But the Malawian Premier League side fought back strongly to earn a penalty after 29 minutes. Haji Abdalla charged on Aderpoje Babatunde in the box and the Burundian referee Georges Gatogato pointed to the spot. Chiukepo Msowoya made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-1.

After the interval Young Africans SC returned and dominated play in the Group A match, but failed to take their chances.
The Young Africans SC team was reduced by one player after goalkeeper Ramadhan Kabwili was sent off after 90 minutes. Kabwili came out to block Hassan Kajoke, but instead fouled him outside the box.

The Nyasa Big Bullets players continued to push forward in the added minutes to put the home side under pressure, but to no avail.

Razak Swa, the stand-in Young Africans SC coach said his team tried played well despite the draw. “We shall go back and plan for the second group match,” said Swa.

The Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Peter Mponda thanked his team for the good show. “We shall come back to fight for maximum points in the next game,” added Mponda.

On Monday three games will be played with Uganda’s Express FC facing Atlabara FC (South Sudan) in a Group A match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, while Le Messager Ngozi (Burundi) take on KMKM SC (Zanzibar), and KCCA FC battle Azam FC (Tanzania) with the two games to be played at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.