By Austin Oduor Otieno,

Chamazi based side and Tanzania’s second representative in the ongoing CECAFA Kagame Cup Azam FC joined Gor Mahia and APR in the last 8 of the tournament that is going on in Tanzania’s commercial capital of Dar es Salaam.

Azam clinically dismissed South Sudan’s Malakia 2-0 to top the group with 6 points after ealier beating KCCA of Uganda 1-0.
Al Malakia came to the match with heads high and hoped to replicate the form that saw them upset Ethiopia’s Adama City 2-1 earlier. Despite dominating the proceedings earlier in the first 20 minutes,they lost concentration and in the 26th minute, Azam’s captain John Bocco scored from long range with a powerful shot for a 1-0 half time lead.
On resumption,Kipre Tchetche scored the second goal in the 50th minute after a fine pass from Shomari Kapombe beyond reach for the Juba based side.Al Malakia however will hope to redeem themselves for a quarter final slot with a last match against KCCA who will play their second match tomorrow against depleted Adama City.

The match also saw Pascal Wawa gets the man of the match accolade.

In an earlier Group B match Lydia Ludic Academic of Burundi held Sudanese side Al Ahly Shendy to a 2-2 draw in a match played at the National Stadium.
Shandy’s Mohammed Awad put the Sudanese ahead in the 35th minute for a HT lead.The lead was however cut shot 10 minutes into the second half when Gael Duhayindayi scored from the spot after Hassan Musa was brought down.Striker Nishirimana had come close twice to put the Burundian’s ahead but Shendy keeper Mbonihankuye Innocent was equal to the task.

The Burundian’s were in it again when Nishirimana picked a lose ball from the centre moved towards the flanks beating his marker to set teammate Abdoul Nahimana who doubled the score line.Al Shendy however forced the match to a draw when Mohammed Amad scored from the spot 15 minutes from time .

With the draw, Lydia Ludic stay second on 2 points after the two draws while leaders APR proceed to the next round with a match to spare.APR will meet LLB Academic in the final group match while Heegan who lost 2-0 to APR will try to redeem themselves when they face Al Ahly Shendy who also has a point.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com