Tanzania Claims Dominant Victory Over Djibouti in U-20 AFCON Qualifiers

Tanzania achieved an impressive 7-0 victory over Djibouti in the U-20 AFCON CECAFA Qualifiers, recovering from an earlier defeat to Kenya. Key performances included a hat-trick from Valentino Mashaka. Sudan also secured a win against Rwanda, maintaining their perfect record in the tournament, while Uganda successfully started their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Ethiopia. The tournament features nine teams vying for qualification to the AFCON U-20 competition.

In a commanding display at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Qualifiers, hosted in Tanzania, the national U-20 team triumphed with a resounding 7-0 victory over Djibouti in their second Group A match. This performance provided a strong response to their initial defeat of 2-1 against Kenya. Valentino Mashaka distinguished himself by scoring a remarkable hat-trick in the second half, while Sabri Kondo contributed with two goals. Additionally, Jammy Jammy and Nickson Mosha added to the scoreline as Tanzania dominated the match played at KMC Stadium. Head coach Charle Boniface Mkwasa expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting their eagerness to succeed and their offensive prowess: “I am happy that we have recovered to win with a big score and we now have to keep improving in our remaining two group matches.” Meanwhile, in another group match at the Azam Complex, Sudan maintained their perfect record with a 1-0 victory over Rwanda, which was secured by Monzer Abdo Khamies Tiya shortly after the match commenced. Rwanda’s coach, Eric Nsimiyimana, acknowledged the need for improvement despite the loss, emphasizing that missed opportunities compounded their mistakes. Sudan’s coach, Mohamed Ibrahim Awadalla Ali, expressed his contentment with the team’s performance thus far: “We shall continue to keep working hard to get positive results because our target is to qualify for the AFCON U-20 tournament.” In earlier matches, Uganda began their campaign vigorously, defeating Ethiopia 3-0, with coach Matia Lule commending the team’s start to their title defense. The ongoing qualifiers, pivotal for determining the teams that will represent the zone at the AFCON U-20 competition next year, spotlight emerging football talents across the region.

The TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA Qualifiers serve as a regional tournament for U-20 national football teams from East Africa. The tournament not only provides these young athletes with competitive exposure but also serves as a qualification pathway for the AFCON U-20 tournament, which highlights budding football talents. This year’s qualifiers see participation from nine teams divided into two groups, competing for coveted places at the continental competition. The significance of each match is magnified by the opportunity for teams to showcase their skills and build a strong foundation for future tournaments.

In summary, the Tanzania U-20 team demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork in their 7-0 victory over Djibouti as part of the ongoing CECAFA qualifiers. With impressive performances from key players and positive reinforcement from their coaching staff, Tanzania aims to build on this momentum in upcoming matches. The tournament continues to feature intense competition, with teams striving for a chance to qualify for the AFCON U-20 tournament next year.

Original Source: cecafaonline.com