CECAFA U18: Stylish Kenya trump Somalia in five goal show

Right footed shots from range that turned into goals.

That was the theme at a jam-packed Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega Friday afternoon as Kenya boys U18 side showed flair and skill to come from a goal down, ultimately dispatching a hapless Somalia 4-1 in the last Group A fixture.

Hot midfielder out of Nastic Sports Academy in Spain Aldrine Kibet was the showman in the afternoon sun, capping off Kenya’s impressive showing with a right foot shot yards away from goal.

The strike not only brought out a salute from one of the police officers standing on the sidelines, but also brought to an end Ibrahim Hussein’s time on the field, as he angrily walked off the pitch with his replacement - Abdikadir Mohamed - coming on to have a taste of the Kenyan offense in the Somali goal.

With the win, Kenya completed their business in the group stages unscathed, winning three out of three fixtures, and a place in the tournament semifinals all but secured.

In total, Kenya, from their other wins - 5-0 against Sudan and a 1-0 victory over Rwanda - are now on 10 goals scored, and a single one conceded.

Match Summary.

Conceding a goal early on was definitely not on the menu for Salim Babu's side, and after a rather calm start to the game, it was Somalia who got themselves into the lead after Abdihafid Abdi lashed a sweeping left-footed shot - cum looping ball - past Ibrahim Wanzala inside 19 minutes.

Having never trailed, character was needed in high supply here, and it wouldn't take long before an equalizer came, and in exciting fashion from two Kariobangi Sharks youngsters.

A corner on the left side in the 25th minute saw Stanley Omondi play a simple pass to Humphrey Aroko in space, with the latter, albeit in a tight angle, squeezing in a curler that came off the right post and into the net.

The two were not done yet.

Three minutes later, it was Omondi's turn to take matters into his own hands - from a freekick yards outside the box - and in which he duly delivered with a smashing hit that Abdi could only palm into the roof of his net.

With that, Kenya made sure they were not trailing at the half, but surely did bring out the guns in the second period.

Louise Ingavi made a few inroads into the Somali area early on, but it was from a sequnce of individual brilliance from Kibet that saw the Junior Stars get their third goal six minutes after the hour mark, as the 16 year old darted past the Somali midfield before laying on a pass for Aroko to drill home, bringing the roof down at Bukhungu.

For his troubles, Kibet was due a goal.

It did come after 71 minutes, this time from Tyron Kariuki's dirty work, when he also drilled a right foot shot into the bottom right corner, securing Kenya a deserved win, and his place among the tournament top goal scorers with three goals.

In other words, Kibet has now scored in all of Kenya's games.

In the dying minutes, Somalia had resulted into kicks and headbutts, a realization that their race had been run, and that their journey had come to a screeching halt.

Joining Kenya in the semifinals from Group A are Rwanda, who put three past sorry Sudan at the Mamboleo Show Ground in Kisumu.

On Saturday, two teams from Group B will fight for their last four places, with Kenya awaiting the second placed finishers for a place into the finals in Tuesday 5th December semifinals.