There was Salim Babu on the shoulders of fans in the middle of the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu.No. This was not a political rally of sorts, but a scene of pure fan ecstasy, all accompanying Kenya’s Junior Stars’ penalty shootout victory over Tanzania in the CECAFA U18 Boys Championships semifinals.Tumeshinda #CECAFAU18 pic.twitter.com/CzLO9LeeHj— MASINDE DENNIS 🕙 (@NodesB) December 5, 2023 After a rather dour 120 minutes of action on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, two, maybe three moments of Kenya’s 4-3 win via penalties – after a barren draw – stood out as Kenya booked their way to the tournament finals.Goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala the hero, as he came up with two saves; stopping both of Said Said and Shariff Wilson kicks, all leading up to Syphas Owour’s right footed shot that sent the raucous crowd tumbling.Kenya has beaten Tanzania by penalties to qualify for the #CECAFAU18 final. Kenyan keeper, Wanzala, saved two penalties in the shootout. pic.twitter.com/SynxoPh0Vj— Cornel☷ (@KoneMoheavy_) December 5, 2023 From looking second best, witnessing a crestfallen Stanley Wilson sobbing after penalty miss, to failing to score in a game for the first time in three games, the Junior Stars remain unbeaten, and will now contest for the regional championship on Friday 8 December against rivals Uganda, who emerged 1-0 winners over Rwanda in the day’s other semifinal.Game Recap.It was without a doubt that Tanzania were pumped for this contest early on, and they threatened inside four minutes with Ismail Ally shooting over.Kenya, taking a back seat, struggled to create meaningful opportunities upfront and went close only after the hour mark when Montvarde’s Louise Ingavi shot straight at Anthony Mpemba.Seconds later, he latched onto an Amos Wanjala pass but was adjudged to have fouled the Tanzanian keeper at the edge of the box.Seemingly on the ropes in this game, Kenya’s right back Baron Ochieng was booked for a foul on the pacy Zidane Sereri minutes to the break, with Hijjah Lidah seeing his freekick just over the bar.Baron Ochieng is such a fighter#FootballKE— Kushay (@KushayVic) December 5, 2023 Before that, Sharif Wilson also had his kick sail way over Wanzala’s goal.At halftime, it felt as if Kenya had been subdued, and head coach Babu made one change at the break bringing in Humphrey Aroko – among the scorers against Somalia – for Elly Owande.Soon enough, skipper Wanjala was keeping out Bakari Msimu’s freekick out of the danger zone, with another Ingavi long range attempt at the hour mark being the only attempt for the Junior Stars who looked indecisive in the final third.##NAJAVA_MECA_7722652##A double substitution by Kenya that brought in Collins Ongou and Dancan Oluoch for Sigmunn Maina and Aldrine Kibet in the 67th minute seemed to ignite the home side, only for Oluoch – lurking inside the box – to miss a sweet delivery from Joseph Khisa.Manzur Suleiman was minutes later stretchered off for Joseph Onyango, with Stanley Wilson smacking his freekick straight to Mpemba for what was the last real go in regular time.Scattered minutes of offense ensued in extra time, with Owuor’s introduction for Ingavi being the most pivotal moment for Kenya.CECAFAU18: Mayanja’s heroic tap sends Uganda into the finalNot that there lacked moments, but it was from the MOFA forward that the hosts got close, his left footed shot in the 107th minute headed to the bottom right corner parried away.Moments before that, a huge let off for Kenya it was as Lidah saw his back post shot swing wide after some brilliant wing-play from substitute Benjamin Ramadhan.What then? The dreaded penalty shoot outs that after all, brought unforgettable scenes.
