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CECAFA U-20 CHALLENGE CUP: Depleted Eritrea battle Kenya in semi final clash
Eritrea’s high scoring team will this afternoon face Kenya in one of the semi final matches at the on-going Cecafa U-20 Challenge Cup. Fresh from their convincing 5-0 win over Zanzibar in the quarter finals, Eritrea have promised to prove a point this afternoon at the Fufa Technical center ground.
“We know Kenya is a good side. But we are ready to prove a point that we did not get to the semi final by mistake,” said Eritrea’s head coach Haile Efrem Alemseghed.
The coach however said some players are nursing injuries and could miss the game. Mawel Tesfai Yoseif, the team’s leading scorer with six goals did not train on Tuesday and could miss the match. But skipper Robel Michael Tekle who has netted two goals has said they are well motivated to put up a good display.
“We shall also count on the many Eritrean fans we have in Uganda to motivate us win the game,” added Tekle.
But Kenya’s head coach Stanley Okumbi said although he respects Eritrea’s style of play and technical awareness, his boys are ready to battle all the way to the final.
“We had the chance of watching Eritrea play in the quarter final match and we know what to do to counter them,” added the coach. He however said attacking midfielder Musa Masika Wanyama who has played a pivotal role in the team so far will have to pass a late fitness test to make the team.
Kenya’s skipper and goalkeeper Brian Bwire Okoth made it clear that they must qualify for the final. “We are very confident of overcoming Eritrea,” added the confident captain.
Kenya will look to their leading striker Sydney Lokale (four goals) together with Benson Ochieng Oluoch (2 goals), and Austine Odhiambo Otieno (3 goals) to lead the goal hunt.
To reach the final Eritrea drew 1-1 against hosts Uganda before they drew 3-3 against Sudan before humbling Djibouti 7-0. Kenya brushed aside Zanzibar 5-0 before they drew 2-2 against Tanzania and went ahead to defeat Ethiopia 4-0 in the last group game. Kenya went on to recover from a goal down to eject Burundi 2-1 at the quarter final stage.
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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