Spot-on Tanzania toss Kenya out of CHAN qualifiers at Kasarani

Kenya’s Harambee Stars crashed out of the  Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers after losing 4-1 to Tanzania in the post-match penalty shootouts at the Kasarani Stadium on Sunday after a barren draw in regulation time.

Coach Sebastien Migne picked a pacy front three with Samuel Onyango and Duke Abuya occupying either side of Sydney Lokale and Whyvonne Isuza operating just behind them, but they could not put the ball in the net, and when it came to the penalty lotteries, the Taifa Stars proved spot-on kicking Kenya out of a race for the ticket to Cameroon where the finals will be held next year January.

The Stars had drawn 0-0 last Sunday in Dar es Salaam, and courtesy of their victory, the Tanzanians will now meet Sudan in the second and final round of the qualifiers.

Mike Kibwage and Joash Onyango missed and Aiyee Hamis struck the decisive penalty to win it for Tanzania.

Taifa Stars had a good start from the penalty as Jonas Mkudde slotted the opener before goalkeeper Juma Kaseja dived the right to keep out Kibwage’s effort to hand his side the advantage.

Paulo Nyanganya beat John Oyemba to ensure Tanzania stayed in front and Clifton Miheso expertly planted his effort into the left corner to give Kenya a fighting chance.

Tanzania’s Gabriel Kamagi showed no nerves from the spot to beat Oyemba before Onyango left Kenya with a huge mountain to climb when he razed his penalty high over the bar.

Hamis struck to complete Tanzania’s perfect shootout and send the visiting fans into delirium

Migne’s attack-line of the afternoon showed flashes of their threat but Stars never really exploited their pace in the opening half with little supply reaching forward.

Joash Onyango stood out in the opening proceedings for the way he marshalled the Kenyan defence and neutralized the danger of Jonas Mkudde whose side enjoyed the greater share of possession. Abuya beat his man with a dummy after he had been teed up by Dennis Odhiambo but his cross lacked enough height and was able to get a touch on it.

Muguna stretched into the interception and was able to gather and did well to win a free-kick before Clifton Miheso sent it high off target.

Iddi Alli then sent a snapshot just off target from a Tanzanian counter-attacking move after Isuza had been dispossessed in midfield.

It ended all-square at half time and Stars nearly went 1-0 up a minute after the restart after Miheso had pulled the ball back into the six-yard area following a bursting run from his own half.

A number of red jerseys were there to attack into it and it was Isuza who got the final touch that sent it out after a scramble.

Stars came knocking again and it was Miheso at the heart of it, winning and delivering a sweet free-kick which Muguna rose into powerfully but he failed to apply the right direction.

Stars began to knock the ball around with a greater sense of urgency in the closing quarter-hour with Migne happy to see more bodies forward yet the breakthrough never arrived.

After his attacking contribution, Miheso showed he can thrive in his new defensive role with an instinctive interception to deny Mkudde what would have a simple tap-in goal.

Lokale threatened a fierce effort across goal from a tight angle and that was his last contribution as he made way for Enosh Ochieng who would have made the desired instant impact had he controlled Miheso’s cross into the area.

Instead, he handled it and with his arm and Tanzania were awarded a free-kick. That was after Isuza had wasted another golden opportunity from Onyango’s cross.

Stars luckily survived going down in stoppage time after Mkudde robbed Oyemba of the ball from way off the goal line but the towering forward failed to get the right elevation on his chipped shot which hit the top of net.

It proved the last piece of play as the referee blew his whistle for full time and signal the shootout where they fell flat.

Kenya Starting Lineup
1. John Oyemba (GK), 12. Philemon Otieno, 3. Cliffton Miheso, 5. Mike Kibwage, 4. Joash Onyango, 6. Dennis Odhiambo (C), 15. Samuel Onyango, 10. Kenneth Muguna, 14. Sydney Lokale, 8. Whyvone Isuza, 11. Duke Abuya

Substitutes
18. James Saruni, 16. David Owino, 2. Benard Oginga, 17. Ibrahim Shambi, 13. Boniface Muchiri, 7. Patilah Omoto, 9. Enosh Ochieng

Tanzania Starting Lineup
13. Juma Kaseja, 5. Kelvin Patrick, 4. Erasto Nyoni, 16. Frank Raymond Domaya, 2. Michael Kamagi, 12. Hassan Dilunga, 21. Iddi selemani Ali, 8. Salum Abubakar, 14. John Bocco, 20. Jonas Mkude, 19. Paulo Nyanganya

Substitutes
1. Metacha Mnata, 24. Abdul Aziz Makame, 9. Hamis Salimu, 17. Ayubu Lyanga, 3. Feisal Salum, 15. Oscar Godfrey Masai 6. Ramadhan Shamte