The Rising Stars of Kenya and South Sudan have qualified for the semi-final stage at the on-going Zonal Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) U-20 qualifiers in Tanzania.

Kenya kick started with a hard fought 2-1 victory against Sudan in a Group B match played at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha this afternoon.

Fortune Omoto gave the Kenyan team the lead, before Al Gozoti Nooh made it 1-1 before the interval. Benson Ochieng later netted his second goal of the tournament to make sure the Rising Stars picked maximum points.

Kenya finished the top of Group B with 6 points, and will now face Uganda Hippos in the first semi-final clash on Monday.

In the second game played at the same Stadium, South Sudan defeated Burundi 4-0 in a Group B match to storm the semi-final stage as the best loser. The South Sudan team who will now face Tanzania in the semi-final stage tied on 4 points with Uganda, but had lower goal difference margin than the Hippos.

Striker William Kundu and Khamis Atari gave South Sudan a 2-0 first half lead. Burundi’s Japhet Ntunzwenimana later netted an own goal before Philip Biajo made it 4-0.

The two teams that reach the final of the Zonal qualifier will automatically qualify for the Afcon U-20 to be played next year.

Kenya’s Rising Stars return to action this afternoon in their second Group C match at the on-going Zonal Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) U-20 qualifiers at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium, Arusha.

After registering a comfortable 3-0 win against Ethiopia, the Rising Stars are favourites to pick maximum points against a Sudan side that showed defensive challenges in their 3-2 loss to Ethiopia.

Kenya’s coach Stanley Okumbi said he expects his players to perform better against Sudan today than they did in the opening group match. “The boys gave a good account of themselves in the first match against Ethiopia, and I am confident that we can do even better tomorrow,” said coach Okumbi.

He will hope that Benson Omala, Ronald Reagan and Enock Wanyama who scored in the win against Ethiopia find their scoring touch again today.

Sudan who lost 2-1 to the Rising Star in a friendly match played in Nairobi few weeks ago will miss the services of head coach Mounir Lehbab who was sent off during the game against Ethiopia.

The second game at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium will see Burundi battle South Sudan in a Group B clash. South Sudan opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Uganda Hippos, before Burundi suffered a 6-1 loss to Uganda.

After the group stages today, action will shift to the semi-final stage on Monday, while the final and play-off take place on December 2^nd. The best two teams will qualify for the Afcon U-20 to take place next year.

Hosts Tanzania have humbled Somalia 8-1 in a Group A match at the on-going zonal Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) U-20 qualifier on Thursday.

The comfortable win sent Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Heroes top of Group A with six points and straight to the semi-finals.

Skipper Kelvin Pius John who also plays for Leicester City Academy in England netted a hattrick to guide the home side to yet another big win.

Abdul Hamisi Suleiman gave Tanzania the lead three minutes into the game, before Sahal Muhumed made it 1-1 three minutes later.

The Ngorongoro Heroes showed more dominance scoring more goals through Ben Sarrkie, before Kelvin Pius John scored two goals to make it 4-0 at the interval.

After recess The Tanzanian team continued to attack in numbers before Kassim Haruna scored after 47 minutes to make it 5-1. Kelvin Pius John completed his hattrick with a goal in the 60^th minute. Frank George and substitute Anuar Jabir put the icing on the cake with two more goals.

Tanzania who started their campaign with a 6-1 win over Djibouti are now the highest scoring team in the tournament with 14 goals and two conceded. They will wait to face the best loser in the semi-final stage.

Hosts Tanzania will be eager to prove yet another point when they face Somalia in their last Group A match this afternoon in Karatu, Arusha as the Zonal Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) U-20 qualifiers enters Day 5.

After their 6-1 walloping of Djibouti last weekend, Tanzania will walk into the Black Rhino Academy Play ground with lots of confidence and determination to prove that they have what it takes to keep winning.

Tanzania head Coach, Jamhuri Musa says they will be all out to try and pick maximum points. “We shall not underrate the Somalian team, but only try to play better than we did against Djibouti,” added the coach.

Musa said their biggest target is qualifying for the 2021 Afcon tournament. “We first need to qualify for the semi-finals,” added the coach. Tanzania will be led by skipper Kelvin John  who also features for Leicester City Academy in England.

But Somalia who lost 2-1 to Djibouti will also hope to recover and prove a point well aware that only a victory can give them a mathematical chance to advance to the next stage.

Somalia’s head coach Abdihamid Mohamed Moalin said after losing the first game, they must try to come out and play better against Tanzania. “We need to go out and win if we hope to continue in the competition,” added Moalin.