Sudan hold 10-man Zanzibar as CECAFA enters day two

Substitute Khamis Mohammed Musa was on the scoresheet as 10-man Zanzibar held a hard fighting Sudan 1-1, in the Group B opener of the CECAFA Senior Challenge at the KCCA Stadium, Kampala on Sunday.

Another substitute, on the Sudan side Montasir Osman Yahya’s 85th minute goal ensured the teams shared spoils.

Zanzibar had however to finish one man down after Ahmada Ibrahim Hamada was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, in the 83rd minute.

Hemed ‘Morocco’ Suleiman, was unhappy with Zanzibar’s show saying as a coach he expected more from the 2017 finalists.

“We have not played well today, we were inconsistent in the match, sometimes controlling sometimes losing it. I however hope we will be able to do better in the next match, because I didn’t see the intention I expected from the team,” said Morocco.

His counterpart Elfatih Ahmed Bani was comfortable with the result, although he agonised a lost penalty that “would have changed the game.”

“We have seen what is here, we need to see our next opponents (Kenya) and know how to prepare for them. It is a respected side by everyone here and I hope we can be better against them. It should have been three points had we converted that first half penalty…” said Bani.

The Heroes of Zanzibar commanded proceedings more, with veteran midfield marshal Addas Mudathir Yahya destroying every good thing that Sudanese attempted.

Abdulaziz Makame played a smooth pass in the path of Ahmada Ibrahim whose shot flew wide with the keeper out of line, a close attempt by the 2017 finalists in the first quarter.

In the 30th, Sudan who had hitherto made no serious attempt were awarded a penalty after a foul in the Heroes box, but Salah Emadeldeen was denied by an alert Suleiman Ahmed Ali, who blocked his spot kick and the resulting rebound before Ali Ahmad cleared for a corner.

Hamada, in a quick response, dodged past Rami Abdalla from the left to unleash a powerful shot that needed Salah’s deflection to miss the tartget.

Sudan’s Bani was forced to withdraw Awad Mohammed for Monatasir Mohammed Yahya, the latter needing only two minutes on the pitch to test Ahmed Ali.

He was picked by Younis Toto Kori who had stolen the ball from Awesu Awesu Ali on the right channel, and dazzled past Ali Ali Hamad to release a hard one forcing Zanzibar’s custodian to parry the ball over the bar.

The last promising chance of the opening stanza came Toto Kori whose free kick at the edge the box was stopped on the line, sending the teams to the break at a barren stalemate.

Morocco was right to introduce Khamis Musa immediately after the break, the man who would break the deadlock soon after.

A series of ping-pongs on the Sudan goal ended with Musa forcing the ball into an empty net, with Sudan’s goalkeeper Mohamed Abdulla already out of place.

The match would however turn to a see-saw affair, Zanzibar’s dominance dwindling as the match wore on.