CECAFA U-20 CHALLENGE CUP: Kelvin John, Simchimba lead Tanzania against Sudan

Favourites Tanzania will battle surprise package Sudan in one of the semi final matches in the on-going Cecafa U-20 Challenge Cup this afternoon at the Pece War Memorial Stadium in Gulu. To reach the semi final Tanzania shocked hosts Uganda 4-2, while Sudan ejected their brothers from South Sudan 1-0 at the quarter final stage.

Leading strikers Kelvin Pius John and Andrew Albart Simchimba who each have six goals will be the key players to watch for the Tanzanian against a defensively disciplined Sudan side.

“I want to score as many goals to help Tanzania win the trophy,” Kelvin Pius John who was also part of Tanzania’s team at the U-17 AFCON this year told Cecafafootball.

The Tanzania head coach Zeberi Katwila also said he is confident his team can overcome Sudan. “This is a knock out stage and we must take our chances early in the game. My players are very motivated to go out and win,” added the coach.

But Sudan’s coach Muhammed Mousa has made it clear that although Tanzania is a good team, they have what it takes to stop them. We respect Tanzania, but we do not fear them,” he added.

The Sudan team that is also unbeaten in the tournament will look to in-form goalkeeper Elnoor Adam Mohamed and leading striker Mohamd Abbas Namir and Musab Kurdman Elsiddiq.

In the group stage Tanzania beat Ethiopia 4-0 before settling for a 2-2 draw against Kenya. They went on to humble Zanzibar 5-0. Sudan started with a 4-0 victory over Djibouti before settling for a 3-3 draw against Eritrea and a 2-2 draw against Uganda Hippos.

The Cecafa U-20 Challenge Cup sponsored by FIFA is expected to climax on October 5th with the play-off for third place and final.