Spirited Rising Stars come unstuck as they fall to Tanzania at the final hurdle in CECAFA U-20 AFCON qualifiers

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Spirited Rising Stars come unstuck as they fall to Tanzania at the final hurdle in CECAFA U-20 AFCON qualifiers

Mark Kinyanjui 18:30 - 20.10.2024

Tanzania bounced back from a goal down to beat Kenya 2-1 to clinch the U-20 CECAFA AFCON qualifying trophy on Sunday afternoon.

Rising Stars were involved in disappointing collapse as Tanzania came from a goal down to beat Salim Babu’s charges 2-1 in the final of the CECAFA U-20 AFCON qualifiers that took place at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday afternoon.

Although Kenya had already qualified for the tournament having reached the final, they fell at the last hurdle, losing a lead to relinquish the overall title on Mashujaa Day.

Tanzania were the front footed side from the early on and should have gone ahead as early as in the second minute after taking advantage of Kenya’s sloppy build up from the back.

Baron Ochieng dallied onto the ball too much before he turned over possession to Valentino Kusengama, who then  attempted a shot from outside the box in the first minute which forced Ibrahim Wanzala into making an acrobatic save.

The Tanzanians continued piling the pressure and pinned back the Kenyans, forcing them to resort to hitting on the break, and in the 18th minute, one such chance resulted in boy wonder Aldrine Kibet winning a foul from outside the box, but Kevin Wangaya’s resultant attempt went just wide off target.

The Ngorongoro stars would then create another couple of good chances, and in the 28th minute, Abdulkarim Kiswanya nearly opened the scoring after doing well to dribble his way past Rodgers Obusu, but his resultant left footed attempt went just wide. Both sides went into the changing rooms equally tied.

The Kenyans would take the lead two minutes into the second half when Aldrine Kibet dribbled with the ball dynamically through the middle of the back before setting up Lawrence Okoth, but although he mistimed the pass and fell down in the box, Beja would take full advantage to driive the ball into the back of the net.

However, Tanzania did not hold back and nearly equalied when Sabri Kondo, who had been causing havoc down the left all afternoon, attempted a left footed shot that just went over the bar.

However, the goalscorer would have to be subbed off in the 53rd minute for Phabian Sheldon after he picked up an injury that forced him to be subbed off.

Tanzania started controlling proceedings again and in the 64th minute, they would equalise through Kusengama after the Kenyans failed to clear the ball well.

This forced Salim Babu into making two changes. He brought on both Dalphine Omuri and Kelly Madada for William Gitamu Mwango and  Andres Omondi in efforts to take the lead again.

This forced Salim Babu into making two changes. He brought on both Dalphine Omuri and Kelly Madada for William Gitamu Mwango and  Andres Omondi in efforts to take the lead again.

The Kenyans just never heeded to the warning signs,and in the 82nd minute, Kusengama would be netting his second goal of the afternoon to give them a dramatic turnaround.

The Kenyans could not claw back into the game and in the end, It was Tanzania who would win the match to clinch the overall title.

How they lined up:

Ibrahim Wanzala, Baron Ochieng, Rodgers Wasega, Manzur Suleiman, Amos Wanjala, Kevin Wangaya, Andres Odhiambo, Beja Hassan, Aldrine Kibet, William Mwangi, Lawrence Okoth