Eritrea to play Monday night against Uganda in the under 17 Cecafa finals of the regional soccer tournament in Khartoum sponsored by President Omar al-Bashir.

Sports authorities in Kampala said on Monday that Uganda’s Hippos edged Tanzania in a penalty shoot out on Sunday to qualify for the final match of the Confederation of Eastern and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) second edition in Sudan.

In 2007, the Uganda team lost to Burundi in the finals by two to nil.

The tackle minded Eritreans are said to have ejected the host country Sudan in another semi final. The final will be preceded by Sudan playing against Tanzania to decide the third position. The Uganda national team, the Cranes are the current champions of the senior CECAFA challenge cup.

Cecafa Cup-2009

Tanzania and Uganda clash in today’s first semifinal match of the Cecafa Under-17 tournament following their victories in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

Tanzania confirmed their place after a hard fought 1-0 victory over Ethiopia while Uganda ran down Malawi 2-0. Tanzania started their match strongly making a series of attacks in the Ethiopian goalmouth.

Their efforts were rewarded in the 35th minute when Hamisi Thabit headed past towering Ethiopian goalkeeper Zerihun Tadele.

Uganda scored in the 30th minute through Julius Kigori who slotted home a penalty and Danniel Sserumkuma in the 58th minute capitalizing on a defensive blunder that left hard working goalkeeper and captain Victor Nangwale exposed.

Uganda would have run off with a bigger score line but the Malawi goalie was always at his best pulling off a series of saves. In the other quarterfinal played last evening in Wad Medani Eritrea beat Zanzibar 2-1.

The last quarterfinal between defending champions Burundi and Sudan had not yet been played by press time. Eritrea scored their goals through Osman Mohamed (11) and Kulu Berhane (55). Yohanes Tilahune got Zanzibar’s consolation in the 42 minute.

Cecafa U-17 Cup

Quarterfinal

Wednesday

Tanzania 1-0 Ethiopia

Uganda 2-0 Malawi

Thursday

Zanzibar 1-2 Eritrea

Source: (The Newtimes Rwanda)