NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 5 – Kenya’s Junior Stars have progressed to the final of the CECAFA Under-18 Championships after edging out Tanzania 4-3 on penalties in the semi-finals in Kisumu this afternoon.
Substitute Syphas Owuor expertly tucked in the last penalty sending the fully packed stadium into pandemonium.
The game was forced to penalties after a 0-0 draw in both normal and regulation time.
Apart from Owuor, keeper Ibrahim Wanzala was the penalty hero for Kenya, saving two, to enable the team progress to the ultimate duel against Uganda.
Kenya’s Collins Ongoli had stepped up first on the penalties, and scored, just after Tanzania had started off on a good note through Benjamin Ramadhan. Goalkeeper Wanzala then stepped up to do duty, saving Said Said’s penalty. This handed Kenya a massive opportunity and captain Amos Wanjala then expertly tucked away his kick as Kenya went 2-1 up.
Hijjah Lidda then stepped up to score for Tanzania, but parity was restored after star player Stanley Wilson hit his penalty wide.
Humprey Aroko and Phales Mkude then scored the fourth kicks for Kenya and Tanzania respectively, and it was now down to the last of the five to get the winner.
Up stepped Tanzania first and Wanjala once again came up big for Kenya, superbly keeping away Shariff Wilson’s penalty.
Honours was now on substitute Owuor of the Michael Olunga Foundation Academy (MOFA) player showed nerves of steel, stepping up to score the final kick and send the stadium into pandemonium as Kenya booked a slot in the final.
Kenya will take on Uganda in the final, the latter having beaten Rwanda by a solitary goal in the first semi-final.
