Kenya to face Uganda in CECAFA finals!

[Ab-Titchaz]

Kenya edge past Zanzibar on penalties into Cecafa final

By Andrew Jackson Oryada BBC Sport, Kampala



Kenya edged past Zanzibar on penalties to reach the final of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Uganda.

The Harambee Stars twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw and force the game into extra time, which failed to produce a winning goal.

Khamis Mcha Khamis gave Zanzibar the lead in the 21st minute before an own goal by defender Nadir Haroub made it 1-1 at half-time.

Zanzibar regained the lead through Aggrey Morris in the 76th minute, but it lasted just four minutes as Mike Baraza scored Kenya's equaliser.

Both sides finished the game with 10 men as Zanzibar's Ahmed Adeyom was shown a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Victor Ochieng, who was unable to continue due to the resulting injury.

There was to be no repeat of their quarter-final penalty success for Zanzibar as they failed to score twice, while Mike Baraza, Joackins Atudo, Edwin Lavatsa and Abdalla Juma all converted for Kenya.

"This is a very sweet win because we are back to a Cecafa final," Kenya's stand in coach for the tournament, James Nandwa, told BBC Sport.

Defending champions Uganda, meanwhile, thrashed Tanzania 3-0 in the second semi-final of East and Central Africa's regional championship.

Two goals from Robert Ssentong and one from Emmanuel Okwi carried the day for the Cranes and set up an intriguing finale to the 2012 tournament.

Saturday's decider will be a repeat of the 2008 final when Uganda beat their arch rivals 1-0.

Zanzibar will take on Tanzania in the third place play off.

BBC Sport - Kenya edge past Zanzibar on penalties into Cecafa final

 

[Dhuks]

Apparently Kenya's team B is better than team A.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Harambee Stars hope to beat Uganda Cranes

Kenyan team that eliminated Zanzibar in the semi-final on penalty shoot-out, they play Uganda in the final today.

By Ernest Ndunda in Kampala

National Harambee Stars coach James Nandwa is optimistic that his charges will upset favourites and defending champions, Uganda, when the two sides meet this evening in a nailbiting clash of the Cecafa Tusker Senior Challenge Cup at Namboole Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

Despite having two casualties, Nandwa said his focus is to win the title with his second string side. The match starts at 6pm. Nandwa will do without his dependable midfielder, Humphrey Mang'oli, who was injured in a quarter-final match against Malawi and substitute Victor Ochieng' who had a serious eye injury when Stars knocked out Zanzibar to reach the final.

Uganda have not been comfortable with Harambee Stars, who denied them a chance of qualifying for next year's Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. It was in October last year at the same venue (Namboole Stadium) where Uganda needed to beat Kenya and make it to the 2013 continental showcase for their first Nations Cup finals since 1978.

But Kenya denied the Cranes that opportunity when they forced for a scoreless draw with Arnold Origi standing tall between the goal posts to deny the Ugandans their dream of playing in South Africa.

Nandwa said his boys will not be under pressure as the Cranes would be at home and their supporters would be urging them on for goals.

"I have talked to my boys and we shall hold on the ball on the ground to deny them any passage. I have a lot of respect for Cranes, but we will not be push-overs," said Nandwa.

He said many people had dismissed the Kenyan secondstring wing as a weak side, but they have proved many critics wrong by making it to the final.

"I salute the boys for coming thus far. They have performed as per instructions and we are happy to be in the final," added Nandwa.

"I would like also to thank Football Kenya Federation and Kenyan supporters for being behind Harambee Stars since the tournament kicked off a fortnight ago," added Nandwa.

Cranes coach Robert "Bobby" Williamson said he preferred meeting another team than Kenya in the final.

"It is going to be a tough match as I have a trophy in my shelves to retain and this can only come true by beating Kenya," said Williamson.

"It is unfortunate that I will be meeting Kenya again after we met in the opening match where we laboured to beat them 1-0," said the coach. Uganda made it to the final after they edged out Tanzania 3-0 in the last semi-final on Thursday night at Namboole Stadium.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Harambee Stars hope to beat Uganda Cranes