Mixed results for Kenya as African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers kick off

Kenya’s U15 national football teams had contrasting results in Day One of the 2023 CAF African Schools Football Championships being staged at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.

While the girls’ team broke out to a perfect record - winning both of their games against Rwanda and Tanzania without conceding - the boys’ team dropped one game against Tanzania, before saving their blushes with a comprehensive win over Somalia to conclude the day’s events.

Following a CAF Safeguarding Workshop involving all the tournament participants early Monday morning, proceedings towards getting the winners of the overall championship (for both boys and girls categories) that will get a chance to represent the CECAFA Zone in next year’s continental finals began with Jackline Auma’s side off to a brilliant start.

The girls team, through strikes from Faith Boke and Brenda Achieng, dismissed Rwanda 2-0 in the opening game at the Kasarani Stadium.

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The boys team, playing concurrently at the Kasarani Annex, stumbled to neighbors Tanzania through a solitary headed goal by Feisal Athman just two minutes into the second half.

The second game for Leonard Odipo’s side however offered a reprieve, as after going into the half time break at 0-0, two goals from Alvin Oloo - a delightful bicycle kick from a corner after 26 minutes - and a Milton Mabea penalty kick in the last minute of the game, secured a 2-0 win for Kenya, who closed out the day with a win out of two.

As for the girls, their second game also resulted in a win, a 1-0 victory over Tanzania thanks to a Tabitha Wambui rebound in the 17th minute.

With the two victories, the Kenya girls’ team lead the standings with six points, with all of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania stuck with a point each.

GIRLS RESULTS

Kenya 2-0 Rwanda

Uganda 0-0 Tanzania

Rwanda 0-0 Burundi

Tanzania 0-1 Kenya

BOYS RESULTS

Kenya 0-1 Tanzania

Uganda 3-0 Somalia

Rwanda 1-1 Burundi

Kenya 2-0 Somalia

Burundi 0-2 Uganda

Tanzania 2-0 Rwanda

Tuesday and Wednesday fixtures: