Hiiraan Online
Friday April 20, 2018
The Somali national U-17 in Burundi. PHOTO: HOL
Nairobi (HOL) - The Somali national Under-17 football team pulled out a surprise victory over Kenya on Friday, defeating their East African neighbours 1-0. The win secured Somalia a spot in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).
The two teams faced off at Muyinga Stadium in Burundi in the hotly contested Group A matchup.
Somalia played exceptional football from the onset of the whistle and their aggressiveness was rewarded with a first-half goal by Farhan Duqoq.
With the upset win over Kenya, Somalia topped the group and secured itself an into the semi-finals. Their next opponent will be the winner between Tanzania and Sudan.
Despite the loss, the Kenyan team finished second in their group and will also advance to the semi-finals because of their superior goal difference over hosts Burundi. Kenya will kick off against Uganda.
Both Ethiopia and Zanzibar were both fined for featuring players who may have been over the age limit.
Ahmed Nasir, Lomene Mesfia and Muse Kebela - who were expelled on Sunday for in their 3-1 win over Somalia without the required age limit documents. As a result, the Ethiopian federation forfeited their Group A.
The same charges were levied against Zanzibar who attempted to play a dozen players who were ineligible. They were fined $15,000 USD and forced to forfeit from Group B.
CECAFA policy requires national teams to submit names of players born after January 1, 2002.
