Kenyas Under-17 Afcon dream shattered

Kenya’s dream of gracing the 2019 under 17 African Nations finals were nipped in the bud after the junior football team fell 4-2 to Ethiopia in their final Group B qualifier match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Kenya’s opponents sailed through to the last four of the Cecafa under-17 tourney which also acts as the qualifier to next year’s Afcon showpiece to be staged in Tanzania alongside Uganda who edged hapless Djibout 9-0.

Uganda finished the preliminary matches topping the pool with nine points, level with Ethiopia though the Ugandans boast of a superior goal difference.

Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda will now battle it out at the semis.

The winners of the Cecafa tourney alongside host Tanzania will represent the Eastern African region in next year’s continental competition.

Kenya coached by Michael Amenga fielded a star-studded squad following their surprise 3-1 loss to Uganda but it could not prevent them from crashing out.

Amenga picked Oscar Kamori in place of Tony Castro Odhiambo, who had been ruled out of the match having suffered a hairline fracture in Kenya’s last match against Uganda.

Kenya was the first on the scoresheet when Alphonse Omija tucked in a header off a corner by Mathew Mwendwa. Ethiopia captain Beyene Baisse would, however, score two goals in quick succession, both from long range, to turn the game in their favour.

Keith Imbali restored parity just before the break to spur hopes for a comeback but as the junior stars pushed forward for the winner, Baisse completed his hat trick off a swift counter-attack late in the match. A late goal for Ethiopia, in a similar fashion, would further seal Kenya’s fate.

The last four ties are slated for Friday this week

Starting XI

Bixente Lazaru (GK), Arnold Onyango(C), Alphonce Omija, Oscar Kamori, Telvin Maina, Nicholas Ochieng, Keith Imbali, Said Musa, Mathew Mwendwa, Richdonald Bolo, Ezekiel Mogendi

Additional materials sourced from FKF website