Iddi dismantle Simba as sleek Azam retain CECAFA title

Isaac Swila in Dar, Tanzania

Who can stop Iddi? This was the lingering question on the lips of pundits and fans alike as the marauding Azam danger-man was at his destructive best yet again on a tense evening at the National Stadium here in Dar es Salaam; scoring and setting another as Azam powered to a 2-1 win over Simba SC to retain the Cecafa Kagame Cup.

Iddi put Azam ahead in the 33rd minute with a header and won the free kick which his skipper Aggrrey Moris beautifully drove in in the 70th minute to hand Azam the win.

Moris struck the ball with aplomb from 25 yards out to silence the Simba crowd that was still on celebratory mood after Meddie Kagere had hauled them level seven minutes earlier.

His first goal in the 33rd minute, a glanced header from a Ramadhan Singano corner was pure class too from a man with the midas feet; whose every touch of the ball has lightened up this competition.

The goal, magic as it’s scorer, hauled Shabaan’s goal return to eight in the competition, and in five games, having been rested in the semis, this being a remarkable feat.

With Simba trailing from his early goal, and when it seemed all hope was lost for the Msimbazi Reds, and patience wearing thin, their marque signing Meddie Kagere struck in the 63rd minute, reacting fastest to drive home after an intial effort by Rashid Mohamed had been blocked in the box.

Simba had begun shaky with Pascal Wawa nearly heading into his own net in the 17th minute; it was a glancing header, taken with much power, the purpose to clear the danger,but which nearly turned catastrophic.

After the break, the level of the game dropped, degenerating into a scrappy affair but it was Iddi, the Tenerife FC bound attacker in Spain, who was still Azam`s most potent weapon, forcing Simba SC goalie Deo Dida to a fantastic save at the hour mark before Marcel Kaheza replied for the latter in the opposite end, his effort landing on the wrong side of the net.

Courtesy of the victory, Azam retained the title they won in 2015 when they beat Gor Mahia 2-0, taking home the trophy and Ksh.3million as Simba took second place to secure Ksh 2million. Gor who earlier on beat NKU 2-0 could at the same venue to finish third, took home Ksh 1 million and will be on a Kenya bound flight tomorrow.

But even so, the margin could have been wider for Azam had Azam goalie Razak Habalola not skied a stoppage time penalty skyward.