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Final group battles for CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup

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The CECAFA U-23 Challenge Cup enters the final climax in the groups stage today with two games on card at the Bahir Dar International Stadium, Ethiopia.

With Kenya and Burundi already through to the semi final stage, two more places will be decided this afternoon.

Djibouti who lost their opening match 3-0 to Kenya will take to the field first against South Sudan in a Pool C match, while Pool A table leaders Tanzania will face arch-rivals Uganda in the second game.

“We need to play a better game and take our chances. It is also very important that we defend well against South Sudan because we did not do that in our opening match,” says Djibouti’s head coach Julien Mette.

Djibouti will also hope that their forwards Isman Siad Yabe and Abass Fouad Abdourahman find their scoring touch.
But South Sudan’s coach Simon James Yor thinks with good concentration his team should be able to get maximum points. “We need to be very cautious and also sharp at goal because this match is very important for us,” says Yor.

In the second game Uganda who lifted the 2020 CECAFA U-20 Challenge Cup will be more than hungry to prove a point against Pool A table leaders Tanzania.

Morley Byekwaso, the Uganda head coach says he is aware the match will be a do-or-die affair since Tanzania is an organized side. “We have gone back to the drawing board and rectified out mistakes,” added Byekwaso. Tanzania will hope that Reliant Llusajo Mwakasagule who netted the lone goal against guest side DR Congo can continue with his scoring touch.

Kim Poulsen, the Tanzania coach admitted that facing Uganda will not be an easy task. “I know they will come all out, but we must be cautious and also take our chances,’ added Polsen.

The semi finals of the competition will be played on July 27th and the final and play-off on July 30th.

INTERNATIONAL FREINDLY

Olunga nets hat-trick to guide Kenya win Four Nations tournament Cup

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Birthday boy Michael Ogada Olunga netted a hat-trick to guide Kenya to a 3-1 win against Zimbabwe in the 4-Nations tournament that concluded in Blantyre, Malawi on Tuesday.

An early own goal by defender Joseph Okumu gave Zimbabwe the lead at the Bingu Stadium, but the Harambee Stars did not give up and kept and kept pushing forward.

Olunga who was celebrating his 30th birthday later made it 1-1 for Kenya at the stoke of halftime after receiving a pass from Ayub Timbe.

After recess the Zimbabwe coach Norman Mapeza was sent-off, and skipper Teenage Hadebe also saw red for the Warriors for a second bookable offence.

Olunga who plies his trade in Qatar with Al-Duhail netted the second goal after 63 minutes. Kenya was also reduced to 10-men, but Olunga was still in scoring mood to add his third with four minutes to full time.

Engin Firat, the Kenya head coach said that the 4-Nations tournament was a good ground for them to assess the team. “It is good we played and won the two matches and there are things we have learnt,” added Firat. In their first match Kenya humbled Malawi 4-0, while Zimbabwe saw-off Zambia 605 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Zambia also defeated Malawi 2-1 in a match played on Tuesday.

The four teams Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi used the tournament as part of preparations for the coming FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers scheduled for June.

In other friendly matches involving CECAFA teams Sudan suffered a 2-1 defeat to Guinea Bissau in a match played on Monday, while Uganda Cranes settled for a 2-2 draw against Ghana in a match played in Marrakech, Morocco on Tuesday.

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AFCON 2025 qualifiers

South Sudan qualify for group stage of AFCON 2025 qualifiers

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South Sudan have qualified for the group stage of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers.

After holding Sao Tome and Principe to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the preliminary round last week, the hosts Bright Star playing at the same Municipal Stadium in Berkane, Morocco on Tuesday settled for goalless draw to qualify on an away goal’s rule.

The South Sudan head coach Nicolas Dupius said although they have made it to the group stage of the qualifiers, there is still a lot of work to be done. “We need to keep preparing well for the many matches ahead of us,” he added.

The other teams from the CECAFA Zone Djibouti and Somalia failed to make it past the preliminary round hurdle.

Somalia held hosts Eswatini to 2-2 draw in a match played at the Mbombela Stadium in South Africa on Tuesday. But Eswatini went on to qualify on a 5-2 goal aggregate. Djibouti also managed to hold hosts Liberia to a goalless draw, but bowed out on a 2-0 goal aggregate.

Chad also joined the group stage of the qualifiers after ejecting Mauritius 3-1 on aggregate.

The four (4) preliminary round winners will now join the 44 exempted teams for the group stage.

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INTERNATIONAL FREINDLY

Tanzania beat Mongolia 3-0 in FIFA Series event

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The Taifa Stars of Tanzania have humbled Mongolia 3-0 in their last match of the FIFA Series played Baku, Azerbaijan on Monday.

After losing their first match 1-0 to Bulgaria, ranked 83rd in the latest FIFA ranking, the Tanzanian team came all out to score three second half unanswered goals at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium.

Youngster Kelvin Pius John who plies his trade with Belgium side KRC Genk netted the first goal after 49 minutes to give Taifa Stars the lead.

As the Mongolia team (ranked 190th in the world) tried to fight back and get some goals, Abdul Hamisi Suleiman made it 2-0 for Tanzania after 62 minutes, and Novatus Dismas Miroshi scored the third goal after 76 minutes.

Hemed Suleiman, the caretaker coach of the Taifa Stars said he was happy with the display of the team. “These two matches we played against Bulgaria and Mongolia have helped us get some exposure with teams from different continents,” added Suleiman.

In the other matches involving teams from the CECAFA Zone played today Burundi settled for a goalless draw against Botswana, while Rwanda recorded a 2-0 win against hosts Madagascar.  

Gilbert Mugisha and Djihad Bizimana netted the goals for the Amavubi if Rwanda. In their first match Rwanda picked a goalless draw against Botswana, while Burundi lost 1-0 to Madagascar.

On Tuesday Kenya will face Zimbabwe in the final of the 4-Nations tournament in Malawi, while Uganda battle Ghana in an international friendly in Morocco. Sudan is also expected to face Guinea Bissau in an international friendly tie.

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INTERNATIONAL FREINDLY

Harambee Stars to face Zimbabwe in Four Nations Tournament final

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The Harambee Stars of Kenya will face Zimbabwe in the final of the 4- Nations tournament at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Tuesday.

Kenya humbled hosts Malawi 4-0 in their first match played on Saturday. Skipper Micheal Olunga scored a brace in the first 5 minutes with the opening goal coming in the first minute. He made it 2-0 after converting from the spot after five minutes.

Malawi missed a penalty in the 69th when Kenya goalkeeper Patrick Mutsotsi Matasi saved Lloyd Aaron’s spot kick.

Ayub Timbe Masika and John Avire later added two more goals to give Kenya a comfortable win. In the second match Zimbabwe beat Zambia 6-5 on penalties after the match had ended 2-2.

The Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat was happy with the way his players responded well from kick off. “It was a good match for us. We had new four players who really understood our strategy. We were fantastic on the ball and Malawi showed a fighting spirit but we prevailed,” added the coach.

In other international matches played by teams from the CECAFA Zone Uganda suffered a 4-0 defeat to Comoros in a match played in Marrakech in Morocco on Friday.

In the other matches played on Friday Rwanda settled for a goalless draw against Botswana, while Burundi lost 1-0 to hosts Madagascar. The Taifa Stars of Tanzania also suffered a 1-0 to Bulgaria in their first match FIFA Series on-going in Azerbaijan.

Ethiopia will play their second match against Lesotho later today in Addis Ababa after falling 2-1 in the first match played on March 21st, 2024.

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