Kenya Under 20 knocked out of Africa Youth qualifiers

By  Fred Maingi inNairobi

Kenya Under 20 national team were knocked out of the  second leg of
the African Youth Championship qualifier after going down 3-0 to the
visiting Egypt at the Nairobi’s  Nyayo National Stadium.

 The Kenya side featuring  four players  from Kenya premier League
(KPL) side however gave out a strong fight especially in the second
half but could not translate their chances into goals.

 The Egyptian took the lead on 15th minute through Ahmed El Sayed
whose tricky shot was too tricky for Kenya Goalkeeper Joel Bataro to
handle.

 Kenya came close to scoring in the 44th minute but efforts by
Enock Agwanda and Danson Kago in a  goal mouth scramble did not yield
fruits.

 But the Pharaoh’s were lucky yet again with a gift goal courtesy of
an own goal by Kenya’s defender Erick Omondi in the 60th minute in a
desperate move to clear  the ball.

 Saleh Gomaaa who was later substituted by Mahmoud Hamad added the
final nail towards Kenya coffin in the 76th from a  sumptuous free
kick that beat the entire Kenya  wall including Bataro in Kenya goal.
 

 Kenya pinned their visitors in their own half but could not
convert their chances  as Egyptian defence marshaled by Ahmed
Elsayed,Yasser Ahmed,Hosam Hassan  and Hamad proved too strong to
penetrate.
 

Egyptian coach Rabei Yassin however paid tribute to their Kenya
opponents saying they gave  his team hectic and agonizing moments.
 

He said  the presence of three players who did not feature in the
barren draw  first leg tie in  Cairo that ended in a barren draw added
more ;punch and fighting spirit.The trio  Ramy Hisham,Saleh Gamaa and
Mahmoud Ahmed were in the Egyptian team that featured in the Olympic
team.
 

Kenya coach Stanley Okumbi was a devastated man after the final
whistle.He attributed his team’s loss owing to poor finishing.
 

‘We created many chances.We started well but our frontline appeared
blunt.We matched them in all departments but they were able to convert
their chances.The Egyptian’s have been together for quite a while
compared to our youthful side that was assembled few weeks ago.We need
to train together and gel as a team for better results.I’m happy with
our performance.We have proved a point and I believe this is the team
we should build for future tournaments”Observed Okumbi.

Line-ups-Kenya1.Joel Bataro,4.Erick Omondi(11.Stephen Wanakaya
72”),3.Athman Mzee,5.Vincent Omondi,2.Robinson Kamura,8.Patilla
Omotto,7.Joseph Wanyonyi,12.Tyrus Omondi(17.Festo Omukoti
60’),10.Enock Agwanda,14.Danson Kago(16.Vincentg Odongo 70”),9.Edwin
Lavatsa.

Subs(Not used)-Fred Odhiambo,13.Islam Omar,6.Geoffrey Lemu,15.Noor

Mohamed.

Egypt-1.Mossad Awad,7.Ahmed El Sayed(10.Mohamed Moustafa 65”),5.Yasser
Ahmed,8.Saleh Gomaa(21.Mahmoud Hamad 80”),17.Osama Ibrahim,9.Omar
Bassam(20.Hosam Hassan 74”)19.Mahmoud Ahmed,6.Ramy Hisham,13.Mahmoud

Elmetrely,4.Mahmoud Wahid,12.Hossam Mohamed.
Subs(Not used)-16.Mahmoud Hamedi,11.Mahmoud Mohamed,14.Mohammed
Rifty,18.Islam Abdel Hamed.
Coach Rabei Yassin.

Referees-Gazinzigwa Eric,Burumushahu Jean,Nijimbere
Ramadhan,Nkurunziza Thierry(All from Burundi).
Match commissioner-Omar Ben Hassan Ali(Comores).