_{Burundi kick started their campaign in the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone with a 5-0 win against Djibouti in a Group A match played on Friday evening.}

_{All the goals were netted in the second half at the Al Hilal Stadium in Khartoum, Sudan.}

_{After a goalless first half Chakib Ali Omar got a one on one chance, but fired straight to the Burundian goalkeeper Papy Habuka after 53 minutes.}

_{Arthur Nibikora put Burundi ahead after 61 minutes with a well taken low shot that beat Djibouti’s goalkeeper Said Mouktar Youssouf. With just a minute after coming on to the pitch substitute Kessy Jordan Nimbona netted Burundi’s second goal after 64 minutes.}

_{Later Nibikora netted two more goals to complete his hattrick, while Alfred Nkurunziza made it 5-0. Djibouti’s Chakib Ali Omar was carried away in an ambulance after an aerial collision with a Burundian player.}

_{Mohamed Meraneh Hassan, the Djibouti coach said his team started well, but got tired in the second half. “This is a young team that lacks experience,” he added.}

_{The Burundi coach Gustave Niyonkuru said although his players failed to find goals in the first half, he is happy they won the match with a big score. “It is good to start a tournament with a big win,” added Niyonkuru.}

_{In the second Group A match played hosts Sudan were held to a goalless draw by South Sudan.}

_{On Saturday reigning champions Uganda will face Tanzania in the only Group B match on card.}

The Walia Ibex of Ethiopia returned to winning ways on Thursday night with a 2-0 victory against giants Egypt 2-0 in a Group D match of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.

Dawa Hottesa Dukele and Shemeles Bekele netted two first half goals to give Ethiopia their first win the the campaign after losing 2-1 to Malawi in the first match.

The six time African champions Egypt came all out at the Bingu National Stadium in Malawi to try and get an early goal, but the Ethiopian defenders contained them well.

After 21 minutes Dukele put Ethiopia ahead when he finished off a clever run and cross by Abubeker Nassir. Egypt playing without skipper and Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah tried to fight back to level matters, but failed.

Team captain Bekele also got his name on the score sheet after 40 minutes as the Egyptian defending line was again caught flat footed.

Wubetu Abate, the Ethiopian coach said his team played well and worked hard to get the win. “We need to keep working hard and remain focused because there are more games to come in the qualifiers,” added Abate.

Ethiopia now go top of Group D with a better goal difference as all the teams in the group have collected three points.

In the other matches played by teams from the CECAFA region South Sudan suffered a 3-1 defeat to a 10-man Mali team in a Group G match played at the St. Marys Stadium, Kitende in Uganda.

South Sudan took a first half lead after Kiki Kouyate netted an own goal after 29 minutes. But the Mali team returned determined to level matters after 58 minutes through Mohamed Camara. Mali was later reduced to 10-men after Ibrahima Kone was later sent-off after 78 minutes for elbowing Rashid Toha.

Sekou Koita and Aliou Dieng added two more goals for Mali in added time as the South Sudan team failed to defend well.

Burundi also lost 1-0 to visiting Cameroon in a Group C match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es salaam. Toko Ekambi scored the lone goal after 30 minutes.

Results

Ethiopia 2 Egypt 0

South Sudan 1 Mali 3

Burundi 0 Cameroon 1

The Amavubi Stars of Rwanda picked a point in their first Group L match played against Mozambique on Thursday night.

Rwanda held Mozambique 1-1 in a match played at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

After a goalless first half, Blaise Nishimwe gave Rwanda the lead after 65 minutes.

But the Mambas who dominated the match pushed forward and leveled matters two minutes later through Stanley Ratifo. The two teams continued to push forward and create some good scoring chances, but failed to convert.

Carlos Alos Ferrer, the Rwanda head coach said that although it was a match they could have won, he is happy that they have picked the first point in the first match. “We need to work hard and continue preparing before we face the African champions Senegal,” added the coach.

On Saturday the second Group L match will see Senegal hosts Benin at the new Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio.

Five teams from the CECAFA region Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan will also be in action on Saturday. Burundi will play away to Malawi, while South Sudan also take on hosts Gambia.

The Taifa Stars of Tanzania will play away to Niger, Sudan battle Mauritania, and Uganda take on FIFA Arab Cup reigning champions Algeria in Algiers.