By Robin Toskin
Kenya Under-20 team qualified for the next round of the African Youth Championship with an uninspiring, but clinical 1-0 victory over Djibouti at the Nyayo National Stadium on Monday.
Ali Hassan tucked away the only goal that separated the sides from close range two minutes into the game. The home side could have been ahead in as early as the first minute when Tobias Tabu dribbled past Djibouti defender Mohammed Elmi, but drove his effort wide with Djibouti goalkeeper Yacine Ali already beaten.
The Djibouti custodian was the busier of the two keepers in the opening exchanges as the hosts made several attacks in search for goals.
Midfielder Francis Oduor failed to beat Ali with a drop shot from which the Djibouti custodian did well to parry for a corner. Victor Mugabe then dribbled through the Djibouti defence, but saw his goal bound shot blocked by Djibouti defender Mahdi Ahmed in the 23rd minute.
In the 39th minute, Tabu came close to add the hosts’ advantage after beating an offside trap, but his shot was casual and ended up at the hands of the Djibouti custodian.
In a game that was dominated by the hosts, the only clear chance that fell to the visitors was in the 42nd minute, when Kenya’s goalkeeper Evans Adache’s poor clearance fell to Omar Waberi. But the striker was slow to shoot and Adache recovered early to block the resultant meek shot.
After the break, the Kenyans failed to make any meaningful attacks. Coach Rishadi Shedu brought in Patrick Oboya and Tabu for Hassan Ali and Hassan Aden in the second half, but their inclusion failed to spur the hosts into action.
Kenya now meets the winner between Rwanda and Ethiopia in the next qualifying round.
Source: Standard, April 18, 2006
