Amavubi of Rwanda will face Uganda Cranes in this year’s CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup final set for Saturday,December 3 at the National Stadium Addis Ababa,Ethiopia after today’s semis.

The final will be preceded by a third place playoff between host Walia Ibex of Ethiopia and Sudan.

Rwanda knocked out Sudan 4-2 via penalties in the first semi final match after a 1-1 draw by the blow of the final whistle at the end of the extra time, while Uganda beat Ethiopia 5-3 also on penalties after 120 minutes of no goals.

Sudan played the better part of the match a man down after Bakri Abdelgadir Babeker was sent off for an off the field incidence – they however recovered and in the 100th minute they took the lead via Atahir El Tahir well taken strike inside the box.

A defensive blunder however allowed Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza to sneak from the blind side of a Sudan defender to score the equalizer twelve minutes later for a 1-1 extra time score.

Rwanda’s Isaie Songa was also sent to the showers barely minutes after coming on as a substitute for an elbow on an opponent.

The game then proceeded to penalties with Rwanda converting four of the five spot kicks while Sudan scored two and missed two.

Ibrahim Mahgoub and Mohammed Tahir Osman scored for Sudan while Mazin Elfaleh Ahmed and Atahir El Tahir missed theirs.

On the Amavubi side Haruna Niyonzima, Jacques Tuyisenge,Djihad Bizimana and Ernest Sugira successfully converted their spot kicks.

In the second semi final match Farouk Miya scored the winning penalty as Uganda beat host Ethiopia 5-3.

Mudiaba,Dennis Okot,Muleme,Joseph Ochaya and Farouk Miya were all successful with their penalties for Uganda – Bihailu Girma, Aschalew Tamene and Elias Mamo scored for Ethiopia while captain Panom Gatosh missed his.

The winner will walk away with a prize money of USD 60,000.

@bonfaceosano

Bonface Osano

African Football Writer contributing @Soka25east | Commentator; appeared on @MySoccerAfrica, @KweseSports, @ntvkenya, others | Keen follower of African Football. E-mail: bonfaceosano@gmail.com