Hosts Kenya reach CECAFA quarters

By Samson Opus

 GOtv CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup

Kenya 2 Zanzibar 0 

JOCKINS Atudo and Noah Wafula struck a goal apiece as Kenya’s Harambee Stars beat Zanzibar to storm the GOtv ECAFA Senior Challenge Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

The win put Kenya and Ethiopia joint top of Group A on seven points each which means the organisers will have to resort to a coin toss on Thursday to determine the group winner.

Kenya and Ethiopia settled for a 0-0 draw in their opening match last Wednesday which has left both sides neck and neck after the three group games.

Needing a clear win against Zanzibar, Harambee Stars took the lead early in the sixth minute when Atudo beat keeper Rashid Abdullah from the penalty spot at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

Man of the match Jacob Keli and Meheso kept Zanzibar keeper Rashid Abdullah throughout the match.

Allan Wanga later stretched the lead with a long range effort in the 59th minute.  

An unimpressed Zanzibar coach Salim Ban blamed the organisers for not playing the crucial group matches at the same time. 

Earlier in the day, Ethiopia also beat South Sudan 2-0, a situation that the coach said played on the minds of the Kenyans better.