Nope, it is not coming home.The Emerging Stars, under the guidance of Stanley Okumbi, have been knocked out 4-2 on post-match penalties by Burundi at the semifinal stage of the CECAFA regional tournament in a match that took place on Tuesday afternoon in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.#CECAFAU23 Penalty Shootout🇧🇮 ✅✅✅✅🇰🇪 ✅❌✅❌The #EmergingStars bow out.We face South Sudan in the third place playoff on Friday.— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) July 27, 2021 Coming into the match, the U23 side had done well for themselves and were brimming in confidence. In the two matches they had played in the group stages prior to booking their semifinal berth, the Emerging Stars had not conceded even once and had scored five goals.When it mattered though, the boys could not score against Burundi who forced the game into penalty shoot outs following a barren stalemate in regulation time.FT: Kenya 0-0 Burundi. Emerging Stars beaten 4-2 on post match penalties. Up next is the third place play off against S. Sudan. I apologize for underrating Burundi #CECAFAU23 pic.twitter.com/Xr4WxCm7W5— Jeff Kinyanjui (@Nyash88) July 27, 2021 In the spot kicks, Burundi successfully converted all four of their penalties as Kenya missed two conversions from the spot to bow out of the tourney.Head coach Okumbi rang a lot of changes in the semis tie – four to be specific, replacing Lewis Bandi, Reagan Otieno, John Njuguna, David Odhiambo and opting for Boniface Mwangemi, Austin Odhiambo, Bonniface Muchiri and Josephat LopagaThis is how the Emerging Stars line up today in their semi final CECAFA U23 match against Burundi.Let’s go boys!📸Harambee Stars#EmergingStars #harambeestars #CECAFAU23ChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/ypkCK2Hccj— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) July 27, 2021 Following the disappointing loss, Emerging Stars will face South Sudan in the third/fourth place playoff match on Friday.
