MAPINDUZI CUP
Kenya, Burkina Faso draw in Mapinduzi Cup 2025
The Harambee Stars of Kenya have settled for a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the Mapinduzi Cup 2025 on-going in Pemba, Zanzibar.
Coach Francis Kimanzi’s team were minutes away from registering a win before Burkina Faso scored late to force the match into a draw at the Gombai Stadium on Saturday night.
After several missed chances in-front of goal James Kinyanjui gave Harambee Stars the lead after firing in a rebound.
The KCB FC striker made no mistake latching onto a well taken Boniface Muchiri free kick that the Burkinabe goalkeeper parried back into play. Kinyanjui fired the rebound into the net four minutes into added trime before the interval.
In the second half Burkina Faso made some changes and created some descent scoring chances, but failed to convert. However, as the match was about to end Aboubacar Traore leveled matters for Burkina Faso after 90 minutes.
In the opening match played on Fridat Zibzibar Heroes sdefeated Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars 1-0 with Fei Toto scoring the lone goal.
The Kilimanjaro Stars will be raging for redemption following their 1-0 loss to the hosts in the opener on Friday.
Skipper Feisal Salum ‘Fei Toto’ scored the only goal in the 51st minute, capitalising on a lapse in concentration in their peer’s defence to slot home.
Action returns on January 6th, 2025 as Burkina Faso face Zanzibar Heroes.
The tournament which will climax on January 10th, 2025 and played to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution of Zanzibar is organized by the government of Zanzibar and Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF).
Table standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Zanzibar 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 3
Burkina Faso 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Kenya 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Tanzania 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
Zanzibar Premier League side, Mlandege FC have retained the Mapinduzi Cup.
Coach Jaala Abdallah Salim’s side rose to the occasion to outclass Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC 1-0 in the final played at the refurbished Amaan Stadium on Saturday evening.
Going into the final Mlandege had seen off Rwanda’s APR FC, while Simba SC ejected Singinda Fountain Gate FC at the semi final stage.
Ugandan player Joseph Akandwanaho who joined Mlandege FC few days ago netted the lone goal after 54 minutes when he turned defenders inside out and slotting the ball past the Simba SC goalkeeper.
Simba SC tried to fight back strongly to level matters, but the Zanzibar team cheered on by the home fans stood firm till the final whistle. It was all celebrations at the end of the match which was also witnessed by the Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi.
The winners who finished the tournament unbeaten received a cash prize of Tanzania shillings 100 million, while Simba SC who are also in the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League bagged Tanzania Shillings 70 million.
The Mapinduzi Cup is an annual tournament organised by the government of Zanzibar together with the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF). The 2024 Mapinduzi Cup attracted teams from Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi.
Simba SC have qualified for the 2024 Mapinduzi Cup final where they will face Cup holders Mlandege FC
The Tazania Premier League giants weer on the verge of defeat against Singida Fountain Gate FC, before Fabrice Ngoma netted equalizer to make it 1-1 in the seven minute of added time.
Elvis Rupia had given Singida Fountain Gate FC, last year’s runners-up the lead after only 11 minutes, but Simba SC didnot give up and continued to push forward before making it 1-1 at the Amaan Stadium on Wednesday.
Simba SC players sharper during the spot-kicks winning 3-2. It was all celebrations as the Simba SC fans as their players celebrated on the picth.
Simba will now face Mlandege FC in the final on Saturday at the Amaan Stadium.
The Mapinduzi Cup is organised by the government of Zanzibar together with the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF). APR FC (Rwada), Jamus FC (South Sudan) and Burundi’s Vital’O were the guest sides that took part in the tournament this year.
Zanzibar Premier League side, Mlandege FC have stormed the final of the 2024 Mapinduzi Cup after ejecting APR FC on Tuesday.
The Mapinduzi Cup holders battled to a goalless draw after 90 minutes against the Rwanda giants, and managed to win 4-2 during spot-kicks at the Amaan Stadium.
APR, the Rwanda Premier League reigning champions had caused shock waves in the tournment ejecting Young Africans SC 3-1 at the quarter final stage.
Jaala Abdallah Salim, the Mlandege coach said he was happy the players had focused well and won the game. « APR was a strong team, but we organised our team well to counter them, « added happy Salim whose team has only won the trophy once.
Action will return on Wednesday when Tanzania Premier League sides Simba SC and Singida Fountain Gate FC clash in the second semi final. Simba SC who have lifted the trophy three times ejected Jamhuri SC 1-0, while Singida Fountain Gate FC saw off Azam FC 2-1 at the smei-final stage on Monday.
The Mapinduzi Cup is organised by the government of Zanzibar and the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF). The 2024 tournament attracted 12 teams from Zanzibar, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda.
Mlandege FC and Rwanda’s APR have qualified for the semi final stage at the on-going 2024 Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar.
After a hotly contested battle in the first quarter final match that ended goalless, Mlandege FC were sharper from the spot as they edged fellow Zanzibar Premier League side 3-2 on penalties at the Amaan Stadium.
The second quarter final stage watched by a big crowd saw Young Africans SC take the lead after 23 minutes through Jesus Loloko.
But the Rwanda Premier League reigning champions didnot loose focus and kept pushing forward and defending in numbers. At the stroke of half time Soulei Sanda leveled matters for APR FC.
Five minutes after recess APR FC made it 2-1 after Victor Mbaoma netted from the spot after the referee pointed for a penalty after a bad tackle in the box. As the Young Africans Sc side tried to push forward, APR showed lots of dominance in the midfield and added the third goal through substitute Eldin Sharaf Shaiboub after 79 minutes.
The Young Africans SC team tried to attack in numbers, but failed to beat the APR FC defending line. APR FC will now face Mlandege FC in the the first semi final clash on January 10th, 2024.
Action returns on Monday with Singida Fountain Gate FC facing Azam FC, while Simba SC battle Jamhuri SC in the other quarter final matches.
The Mapinduzi Cup which is held every year is organised by the government of Zanzibar together with the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF).
-
CECAFA10 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
Top stories5 years agoWe need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino
-
CECAFA5 years agoCecafa mourns former chairman Tesfaye Ghebreyesus
-
NEWS3 years agoFIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers: Eritrea ejects Djibouti 6-1 on aggregate
-
CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship1 year agoSemi-final stage set for CECAFA U-18 Championship 2023
-
CAF5 years agoCAF approves dates for 2020 Total African Nations Championship in Cameroon
-
NEWS3 years agoYoung Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
-
CAF African Nations Championship4 months agoAfrican Nations Championship 2025 dates announced