Cranes skipper Andy Mwesigwa (right) is joined in celebration by Geoffrey Massa (left) and Simeon Masaba

By Reuben Olita
in Nairobi, Kenya

Final
Uganda 2 Rwanda 0
Play-off
Zanzibar 1 Tanzania 0

UGANDA asserted her authority in the region when the Cranes won back-to-back the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup after beating rivals Rwanda 2-0 in a thrilling final in Nairobi yesterday.

The swashbuckling victory at Nyayo National Stadium saw Uganda win an historic 11 titles in 15 final appearances since the inception of the tournament in 1973.
Kenya, whom Uganda eliminated at the quarterfinal stage are far behind with five CECAFA Cup victories to their credit with Ethiopia placed third with four wins.

The win also ensured Uganda took the top cash prize of $30,000 (sh56.4m). Rwanda won $20,000 while third-placed Zanzibar, who edged Tanzania 1-0 in the classification match was awared $10,000.

Ululations filled the stadium when Cranes captain Andy Mwesigwa raised aloft the trophy at 6.10 pm with hundreds of Ugandans fans who travelled in three Kalita buses joining the players in celebration.

The win was the second on Kenyan soil, the other being in 1989 when the team beat Malawi 2-1 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

Among Ugandan dignitaries who came to cheer the Cranes were education and sports state minister, Charles Bakkabulindi, Uganda High Commissioner to Kenya, Angelina Wapakhapubo who was waving the Ugandan flag in excitement from the dais and FUFA president, Lawrence Mulindwa.

Rwanda was represented by sports minister Joseph Abineza in the final that was presided over by Kenya’s Prime Minister, Raila Odinga and sports minister, Professor Hellen Sambili.

Zanzibar finish third to win bronze medal


Play-off
Zanzibar 1 Tanzania 0

ZANZIBAR Heroes finished third to win bronze and $10,000 when they beat Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro
Stars 1-0 in “a local derby” encounter of the Orange CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup here yesterday.
The only goal of the match came after 70 minutes when Young African midfielder and Zanzibar captain, Abdi Sadalla scored from a 25-metre curving free kick that beat Mohammed Muharami in Kilimanjaro Stars goal all the way.

The victory earned the islanders, winners of the title in 1995, US$10,000 (sh18m) courtesy of communication firm, Orange who are the main sponsors of the 33rd edition of the regional tournament. To Tanzania, it was their first loss to their compatriots since 1988 when they lost in the quarterfinal match.

It was also the first time since 1975 that Tanzania lost in a third-place playoff, having won all the previous four play-offs. Unlike Tanzania, Zanzibar had also featured in third-play offs four times and losing all of them!

Yesterday, Tanzania was a pale shadow of the team that had dominated regional soccer for some time and winning the tournament twice, the last being in 1994 in Kenya.