CECAFA U-20 CHALLENGE CUP: Kenya too good for Ethiopia

Kenya’s Raising Stars have completed the group stage of the regional Cecafa U-20 Challenge Cup with the convincing 4-0 win over Ethiopia. The win keeps Kenya top of Group B before Tanzania face Zanzibar in the last Group match at the same Fufa Technical Center Stadium in Njeru.

Kenya started the game on a high with several shots at goal. But Ethiopia’s Misfin Taffsse continued to give the Kenyan defenders lots of trouble. After 44 minutes Steven Oteino gave Kenya the lead with a hard shot that Ethiopia’s goalkeeper Yohannes Temesgen failed to stop.

In the second half Ethiopia’s Abel Azariyas should have leveled matters after 65 minutes but missed the target at close range.

But Austine Otieno Odhiambo increased Kenya’s lead after 68 minutes with a well taken tap in after Sydney Lokale’s cross.

The Kenyan side continued to push forward and added two more goals through John Collins Njuguna and Benson Ochieng Oluoch. Ethiopia’s coach Yosef Tesfaye tried to make some changes but to no avail.

“We are happy that we have finished on a high in the Group stage. We respect every team in the tournament and will be ready for the quarter final stage on Sunday,” said Kenya’s coach Stanley Okumbi.

Kenya’s captain and goalkeeper Brian Bwire Okoth thanked the team for working hard to qualify for the quarter finals without losing a game. “We need to focus now for the quarters because it’s knock out,” added Okoth.

Ethiopia’s technical officials refused to attend the press conference after the match.

Kenya is likely to face Uganda or Burundi in the knock out stage depending on the result of the Tanzania against Zanzibar match.

Group B standing

P    W    D     L     GF     GA    A   Pts

Kenya            3     2     1     0     11       2      9      7

Tanzania       2     1      1     0     6        2      4      4

Zanzibar        2     1      0     1      2       6     -4     3

Ethiopia        3     0      0     3      1     10     -9      0