Tanzania’s under-17 side Serengeti boys are in Kigali to enhance their preparations for the final round return leg against Congo Brazzaville in the African Youth Championships qualifier.
The 27-man delegation composing the Tanzania’s under-17 side arrived in Kigali on Thursday morning at 10a.m aboard Rwandair from Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian side will camp at Kigali View Hotel and their one-week training sessions will be held at Stade de Kigali.
A Yohana Mkomola first half brace and a second half strike from substitute Issa Makamba was enough for Tanzania to beat Congo 3-2 in their final round first leg clash on Sunday in Dar es Salaam.
Langa Bercy and substitute Bopoumela Chardon reduced the deficit for the Congolese and give their side some glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg in a fortnight.
It was the visitors who resumed on a positive note and striker Bercy hit the crossbar in the opening minutes. The Serengeti Boys responded quickly and Assad Juma nearly scored the opener, but his free kick was no problem for Congolese goalie Yann Oboua.
On 38 minutes, Mkomola broke the deadlock against the run of play before completing his brace three minutes before the break.
Down by two goals, the Congolese resumed stronger but efforts from Bercy, Rodrique Kiba-Konde and Gedeon Ntota were no trouble for Tanzania shot-stopper Ramadham Kabwili.
Bercy finally succeeded in finding the back of the net on 74 minutes from the spot to make it 2-1.
Four minutes after, Kabwili sustained an injury and had to be replaced by second choice, Kelvin Kayego for the remainder of the game.
Makamba scored the third goal for the homers eight minutes from time before Bopoumela restored his side’s one goal deficit with a superb strike in stoppage time.
The second leg will take place in a fortnight in Brazzaville with the winner qualifying to the final tournament scheduled for 2-16 April 2017 in Madagascar.
Africa U-17 Championship
First Leg Results
Saturday, 17 September 2016
Niger 1-0 Gabon
Senegal 0-1 Guinea
Angola 5-0 Comoros
Sunday, 18 September 2016
Ghana 3-1 Cote d’Ivoire
Mali 2-0 Ethiopia
Sudan 4-2 Cameroon
Tanzania 3-2 Congo
Source: Ferwafa.rw
