Zambia hand Kenya U17s rude Cosafa welcome

Zambia hand Kenya U17s rude Cosafa welcome

Kenya Under 17 national side got a rude introduction to the Cosafa Under 17 Championships when they received a 4-0 hiding from Zambia in a Group B clash at St. Francois Xavier Stadium in Port Louis, Mauritius on Friday.

Featuring in their first ever competition after the side was reconstituted afresh, the Kenyans soaked all the punishment in the first half with Nicholas Mulilo grabbing a brace as Damiano Kola and Kunda Nkandu added to the score in the 37th and 43rd minutes.

A last gasp Frank Chizuze strike earned 10-man Malawi a 2-1 victory against Madagascar in a tie the islanders took a first half lead in the 32nd through Fabrizio Mosa before Raphael Banda brought the sides level.

Henri Chiwaya received his marching orders in the 67th for a second bookable offence but Chizuze spared his blushes when he helped his team join Zambia at the summit with three points, only trailing by goal difference.

The junior Chipolopolo took only four minutes from kick-off to breach Kenya’s rearguard through Mulilo who punished a goalkeeping blunder from Geoffrey Ouma.

Before absorbing the shock, Andre Spiers boys were 2-0 when the same player found the target by getting the better of his one-on-one with Ouma and it would have been worse in the 23rd had Kola’s finish not been ruled out for offside.

The respite was brief and soon Kola was wheeling away in celebration before the first half thrashing was completed by a brilliant curling shot after combining superbly with Castrol Siakotale.

Mulilo missed another opportunity to complete his hat-trick just before the break when he fired hopelessly wide with only the exposed Ouma to beat as Kenya’s defence once again went on a walkabout.

Spier made a double change at the restart bringing on Daniel Wambua and Jeremy Muriithi for Brian Otieno and Telvin Njeri to spare them further humiliation after a torrid opening 45.

Kenya came close in the 54th as the Zambians eased their feet off the pedal when Muriithi’s powerful drive drew a smart save from the hitherto unemployed keeper.

Kenya’s Team:

Starting Team: George Ouma (GK), Brian Otieno (Daniel Wambua 46’), Clinton Machaka, John Njuguna (Cpt), Zidane Karume, Ibrahim Onangwe, Telvin Njeri (Jeremy Muriithi 46’), Keneth Karungari (Thomas Muya 76’),  Muthoka Mulei, Eric Muriithi, Brian Omutanyi

Unused Subs: Bonface Odhiambo (GK), Ahmed Omar, Lewis Wanjala, Biron Lukale, Prince Boit, Isaac Omoke

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Zambia football Kenya Under 17 Cosafa

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