Results: Somalia 0 Vs Zanzibar 3, Burundi 1 Vs Uganda 0 (4:00pm)
Today: Rwanda Vs Djibouti (2:00pm), Ethiopia Vs Malawi (4:00pm)
Burundi electrified Dar es Salaam National Stadium on Thursday, upsetting pre-match favourites Uganda with a 1-0 win. The results thrust Burundi to finish top of the group ‘B’ table in the ongoing Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup here in Dar es Salaam, a position many felt earlier was Uganda’s destiny.
Zanzibar also won their last group stage match, beating Somalia 3-0, in the same group, but will have to wait and see whether they will be one of the two best third place teams that will qualify for the quarter finals. Burundi players were brilliant and entertaining right from the word go. As the game wore on, a bemused Uganda appeared unable to cope with a pace they never expected.
But Coach Bobby Williamson praised his boys saying they did their best only that they lost the game. “I congratulate my boys for making it into the quarter finals of this very competitive tournament” the Scottish tactician told a fully packed post match press conference.
A fiercely attack-minded Burundi raided the Uganda goal with booming shots from all angles; most of them long range to the great discomfort of the Cranes goalie Robert Odongkara.
The St. George FC goalkeeper had been tested from all angles when, with sun in the eyes, he was beaten by a high ball from Cedric Amissi in the 40th minute. The ‘blinded keeper’ could do nothing about the ball that his stretched arms could not reach as it went in via the upright on the top far corner. “I was affected by the sun rays but will offer my best if given another chance” said Odongokara after the game. Cranes’ tournament first choice goalkeeper Abby Dhaira still struggles to recover from malaria.
The Burundians never let the Ugandans settle, pushing them to the limit with short clever passes that threw the Cranes’ midfield into shambles. Uganda would have taken a lead in the 23 minute when Emmanuel Okwi dribbled through the ‘forest’ of Burundi defender and left with the goalkeeper to beat but never used this opportunity maximally. Uganda will now have to play the runners up from Group ‘A’ likely to be mainland Tanzania or Zimbabwe depending on the results from their remaining group stage matches. Burundi plays second best team from group ‘C’
Meanwhile Zanzibar’s qualification into the quarter final stages hinges their hopes on either Tanzania or Zimbabwe failing to win their last Group ‘A’ match on Saturday to finish on three points and be eliminated. Rwanda are expected to beat Djibouti this Friday to top Group ‘A’ on nine points, while Ethiopia and Malawi meet in a crucial Group ‘C’ engagement, whose qualifying and eliminated team[s] will only be known on the last day of play when Kenya meet Sudan.
Line up for Uganda: 18. Robert Odongkara, (Gk); 17, Simeon Massa, 15, Godfrey Walusimbi, 5. Isaac Isinde, 4. Henry Kalungi, 2. Musa Mudde, 12. Dan Wagaluka (13. Moses Oloya, 60’), 20. Patrick Ochan (6. Tony Mawejje, 60’), 7. Emmanuel Okwi, 8. Mike Serumaga,10. Michael Mutyaba (11. Sula Matovu, 68’). Reserves not used – 19. Ali Kimera, 9. Robert Sentongo,16. Hamis Kiiza, 3. Habib Kavuma. Coach – Robert Williamson [Scotland]
Burundi – 1. Vladmir Niyonkuru: 14. Floribert Ndayisaba (captain), 15. Gilbert Kaze, 6. Karim Nizigiyimana, 5. Hassan Hakizimana, 16. Pierre Kwizera, 8. Faty Papy, 7. Didier Kavumbagu, 18. Kevin Ndayisenga (9. Laudy Mavugo, 49’), 3. Fuady Ndayisenga (12. Gael Duhayindavyi, 89’), 10. Cedric Amissi. Reserves not used – 2. Saidi Nduwimana, 13. Styve Nzigamasabo, 4. Frederic Nsabiyumana, 19. Saidi Suleiman, 17. Emery Nibumana
Scorer – 10. Cedric Amissi (39’, Coach – Adel Amrouche [Algeria]
Referee – Bamlak Tessema [Ethiopia], Assistant ref – Brassan Mamati [Kenya], Asst ref – John Kanyenye [Tanzania], Reserve ref – Gervais Munyanziza [Rwanda], Match commissioner – Zam Ali [Zanzibar]
RESULTS & FIXTURES:
Friday, November 25:
1. 2.00pm: Burundi 4-1 Somalia, 2. 4.00pm: Uganda 2-1 Zanzibar,
Saturday, Nov 26: 3. 4.00pm: Tanzania 0-1 Rwanda,
Sunday, Nov 27:
4. 2.00pm: Zimbabwe 2-0 Djibouti, 5. 4.00pm: Zanzibar 0-0 Burundi,
Monday, Nov 28:
6. 2.00pm: Sudan 1-1 Ethiopia, 7. 4.00pm: Kenya 0-2 Malawi, 8. 4.00pm: Somalia 0-4 Uganda,
Tuesday, Nov 29:
9. 2.00pm: Rwanda 2-0 Zimbabwe, 10. 4.00pm: Djibouti 0-3 Tanzania,
Wednesday, No 30:
11. 2.00pm: Ethiopia 0-2 Kenya, 12. 4.00pm: Malawi 0-0 Sudan,
Thursday, December 1:
13. 2.00pm: Somalia 0-3 Zanzibar, 14. 4.00pm: Burundi 1-0 Uganda,
Fri, Dec 2:
15. 2.00pm: Rwanda v Djibouti, 16. 4.00pm: Ethiopia v Malawi,
Sat, Dec 3:
17. 2.00pm: Kenya v Sudan, 18. 4.00pm: Tanzania v Zimbabwe,
(Issued this Friday December 2 by Rogers Mulindwa)
