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CECAFA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP: Uganda Cranes stop Eritrea to storm semi final
Uganda Cranes have joined defending champions Kenya in the semi final stage at the 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup after their 2-0 win over Eritrea on Wednesday. Midfielder Nicolas Kasozi and Mustafa Kizza scored the goals to guide Uganda Cranes to their third straight win in the tournament at the StarTimes Stadium.
Kasozi netted his first goal in the national team jersey after 58th minutes with a long shot that Eritrean goalkeeper Kibrom Solomun fumbled with before it rested in the net.
Eritrea who had better command of the game continued to attack, but Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa was up to the task by making several saves from skiepper Robel Michael Tekle, Robel Kidane and Filmon Semere.
On 80 minutes Kizza doubled for Uganda from the spot after defender Micheal Habte handled the ball in the box off a free-kick.
Eritrea’s coach Haile Efrem Alemseghed said it was unfortunate that after dominating the game his team failed to win. “We need to go back and plan well for our remaining games against Djibouti and Somalia,” added the coach.
“Our opponents had smooth passing of the ball. But Football is about winning games. We did better in the second half but we seriously need to be better than today,” said Uganda’s coach Jonathan McKinstry.
In an earlier Group A game Djibouti shocked Burundi 2-1 with Mahdi Houssein netting a brace for Djibouti, while Landry Ndikumana scored for Burundi.
Julien Mette, the Djibouti coach said he was impressed with his players’ positive attitude. “Like I said this tournament is helping us prepare the team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers,” he added.
Burundi’s assistant coach Miad Charmake blamed his team for the loss. “It is a game we should have won, but my players underrated the Djibouti team,” added Charmake.
Group A table standing
P W D L GF GA A Pts
Uganda 3 3 0 0 6 1 5 9
Djibouti 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 4
Eritrea 2 1 0 1 1 2 -1 3
Somalia 2 0 1 1 0 2 -2 1
Burundi 3 0 0 3 5 2 -3 0
Experienced Football administrator Souleiman Hassan Waberi has been re-elected President of the Djibouti Football Federation (DFF).
Waberi returned un-opposed for another four year-term in office during the General Assembly held at the National Technical Centre in Djibouti on Saturday.
“I am happy and glad that I have been re-elected to lead Football in Djibouti. I thank all the voters for having confidence in me,” said a happy Waberi.
“I and my committee can’t do anything without you stakeholders. We succeeded 98% of the development programs I pledged in front of you four years ago. Once again I count on you and I want you to work harder than you have been working with us in the past and surely we can reach a higher level in football,” said Waberi.
He also thanked the Minister for youth and sport, Hassan Mohamed Kamil for his long-standing contribution to football in the country. “On behalf of Djiboutian football family, I am very grateful to the President of the Republic His Excellency Ismael Omar Guelleh for his constant commitment to youth and sport and football in particular,” he added.
Waberi who is also the third Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in March 2025 will be vying for the FIFA Council seat.
Each team will be allowed to field three over age players at the U-23 CECAFA Challenge Cup.
The regional tournament will be played in Bahir Dar between July 3-18th.
According to the rules and regulations of the tournament, the competition is limited to players 23 years old or young and each team will be allowed three over age players.
CECAFA has stated that all players of the teams must have been born on or after 1st, January, 1998 and the lower limit must be at least 18 years by the end of the calendar year in which the competition is played.
Incase a member association has fielded more than three over age players, that player shall be disqualified and nor replaced, while the team could face disqualification, a ban or asked to pay a fine.
The U-23 team of the Democratic Republic of Congo team will play in the tournament as a guest side.
CECAFA members agreed in March this year before the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) held in Morocco that the Challenge Cup in 2021 will be played by the U-23 teams. Each member Association is however expected to contribute US$20,000 for their team to participate.
South Sudan head coach Ashu Cyprian Besong has dropped striker Tito Okello Odong from the squad traveling to face Jordan in the preliminary round of the FIFA Arab Cup.
The Bright Star will face Jordan on June 21st at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar.
Okello who features for Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia FC netted the lone goal when the Bright Star beat Uganda 1-0 in the Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier last year.
The striker who ditched Uganda to play for South Sudan because he was not being considered for the national team was among the players dropped before the team leaves on Friday. The other players dropped include; Lual Daniel Gumnok, Wani Ivan Marcello, Jackson Morgan Obede and goalkeeper Mawien Khon Arop.
“We have been training hard and the team will go out to Doha to try and get a good result,” said South Sudan’s coach Besong.
South Sudan squad
Goalkeepers: Majak Mawith, Ramadan John, Khamis Daniel
Defenders: Dhata Joseph, Peter Maker, Rashid Toha Rashid, Mutwakil Abdelkharim, Omot Sebit, Rehan Angier
Midfielders: Musa Asad, Stephen Pawar, Gibson Wande
Forwards: Kur Gai, Makueth Wol,Valentino Kudon Yuel, Aluk Akech, John Albino
The Falcons of Sudan have arrived in Doha, Qatar ahead of the preliminary match against Libya in the 2021.
Coach Hubert Velud’s side arrived on Wednesday night ahead of the match slated for June 19th at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha.
Velud said the two friendly matches they played against Zambia have helped the team prepare well ahead of the match against Libya. Sudan beat Zambia 3-2 in the first friendly match, while Zambia revenged winning 1-0 in the second match, all played in Khartoum.
“We have prepare well and I am optimistic we shall play well and go all out to try and qualify for the next round of the FIFA Arab Cup,” added the coach.
Besides Sudan, the other teams from the CECAFA region include Somalia who will face Oman, South Sudan will take on Jordan, while Djibouti battle Lebanon.
Sudan’s squad
Goalkeepers: Ali Abdallah, Mohamed Alnour, Mohamed Mustafa
Defenders: Samwal Mergani, Faris Abdallah, Mohamed Ahmed, Amir Kamal, Ahmed Abdalmonem, Athir Altahir, Rami, Hussain Ibrahim
Midfielders: Nasralden Omer, Abuagla Abdallah, Walaaldin Khidir, Diaalden Mahgoub, Altag Yagoub, Sharafalden Shaiboub, Maaz Abdulrahim
Strikers: Walid Bakhit, Mohamed Abdulrahman, Algozoli Mouh, Saifalden Malik, Yassin Hamid
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