Kibet inspires Kenya to CECAFA U18 semifinals

Aldrine Kibet’s 37th-minute goal was all Kenya needed to edge a stubborn Rwanda side 1-0, to become the first nation to storm the last four of the ongoing CECAFA Under 18 championship in a match staged in Kisumu on Tuesday morning.

Kenya, who went into the match on the back of an emphatic 5-0 win over Sudan, began the game on a high launching numerous attacks but the attackers were not sharp enough in front of the goal.

With Kenya causing havoc to the visitor's backline, Rwanda restored to long balls and defending in numbers to keep the Kenyans at bay.

The Junior Stars continued to press on but the defensive partnership of Niyonkuru Protogne and Kwizera Ahmed worked tirelessly to deny the Kenyan forward a shooting space.

Kenya improved their sharpness in front of the Rwandese goal and it paid off in the 37th minute when Kibet picked up a loose ball from Kariobangi Sharks youngster Stanley Wilson and fired past Ruhamyanyiko Yvan to put the nation in front, and hand Kenya a deserved win heading into the breather.

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The Kenyans continued to dominate the proceedings after the restart but met a brick-walled Amavubi juniors defense line that kept at bay all the attempts from the marauding attackers.

Despite late attempts by Rwanda to salvage the match, Kenya held on to win the tie and march to the semifinals with one match on hand.

After Tuesday’s action, Kenya is through to the last four while Rwanda will need to win the last group match against Sudan to advance the next level of the competition.

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