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ZONAL AFCON U-17 QUALIFIERS: Uganda thrash Kenya to storm semis
Striker Oscar Mawa netted a hat-trick to help Uganda Cubs thrash Kenya 5-0 in a Group A match played this afternoon in the on-going Zonal Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers in Rubavu, Rwanda.
The win was enough to send the regional U-17 reigning champions to the semi- final stage since Kenya have now played two games and have one point, while their next opponents Ethiopia also have one point.
Mawa got his name on the score sheet early in the 8th minute when he reacted faster than the Kenyan defenders to tap in from close range. Kenya settled after conceding an early goal, but still failed to find a goal.
In the second half Mawa added showed good speed and agility to score two more goals, while Travis Mutyaba and Ronald Madoi also netted the other goals.
Kenya’s Baron Ocheing, Kenn Mueno Nyale and substitute Gil Harel all had chances to score, but failed to beat Ugandan goalkeeper Abdu Magada.
“I am disappointed that we failed to play well today,” Kenya’s head coach Oliver Page said after the game. His counterpart the Ugandan coach Hamuza Lutalo was all praise for his team that scored many goals. “We are here to defend our title and qualify for the Afcon U-17,” said Uganda’s coach.
On Friday Uganda Cubs will face Djibouti in their last Group A match at the same Umuganda Stadium.
Group A standing
P W D L F A Pts
Uganda 1 1 0 0 5 0 5 3
Ethiopia 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
Kenya 2 0 1 1 2 7 -5 1