Kenya’s group opponents draw in U17 AFCON Qualifiers opener

Kenya’s pool opponents in the 2025 U17 AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) Qualifiers – Uganda and Tanzania – settled for a 1-1 draw on Sunday’s opening fixture played at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.Kenya, owing to the the withdrawal of Ethiopia and Burundi, were pooled together with the two nations following a mini-draw conducted on Thursday, and will take the result as a plus as they prepare for their first game on Wednesday 19 December.Kenya U17 team pooled in ‘group of death’ after AFCON qualifiers redrawSaleh Ally gave Tanzania the lead after 19 minutes, but hosts Uganda found a way to claw back in the second half, leveling matters two minutes to the hour-mark through Isima Magala.Kenya, who are already in Uganda, will seek to take control of the group when they take on Tanzania at 1300 EAT, before playing Uganda on Saturday 21 December (1600 EAT).##NAJAVA_MECA_8571654##Under coach Salim Babu and his counterpart Anthony Akhulia, the Junior Stars need to finish in the top two to advance to the tournament semifinals.Only the best two teams (finalists) will then qualify for the U-17 AFCON to take place in Ivory Coast next year.Earlier on Sunday, 2022 champions Somalia were stunned by South Sudan 3-0 in their opening Group B match at the same venue.South Sudan overpower Somalia in U-17 AFCON CECAFA Qualifiers 2024 Group B opener. Somalia 🇸🇴 0⃣ – 3⃣ South Sudan 🇸🇸#u17afconcecafaqualifiers #u17afconqualifiers #cecafa#SOMSSD | #U17AFCONQ pic.twitter.com/un8o45ZzGu— Cecafaonline (@Cecafaonline) December 15, 2024 Somalia started a better side with skipper Anas Abdi seeing his effort miss the target after 14 minutes, but the South Sudan team grew in confidence, closing the gaps and dictating play.After 38 minutes Shakir Antacio put South Sudan ahead when he unleashed a hard long shot from outside the box that beat Somalia’s goalkeeper Abdirahman Abdugadir.The 2022 beaten finalists increased their lead at the stroke of half time with Panon Jou finishing off a well-taken Lazarus Peter George Laku cross.Shabana reveal amount collected in league match against KCBIn the second half Somalia made some changes, but still failed to break South Sudan’s defending line led by Kudum Chol, Dameul Eyi, and captain Ronaldo Jonothan.Laku soon completed South Sudan’s fine display from a free kick in the 72nd minute, leaving his team on the verge of making the last four. “I am happy that my team managed to contain the pressure by Somalia and later score three goals,” South Sudan manager Nassir Hassen Bakit told CECAFA Online. “It is still early in the tournament, but we are happy with what we did today.”

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