December 20 – Hosts Uganda have lifted the Cecafa Cup, East Africa’s flagship regional competition, after defeating Eritrea 3-0 in the final.
Anukani Bright, Mustafa Kizza and Joel Madondo were on target for the Cranes as the host country prevailed on home soil, registering a 15th Cefaca Cup win. Eritrea were the surprise package of the tournament, defeating Kenya’s Harambee Stars 4-1 in their semi-final, but they were well beaten by the Cranes in the championship match.
The Eritreans had finished second in group A on seven points, five behind Ugandans. In the first round the hosts had prevailed as well in their direct confrontation with Eritrea, 2-0. Kenya clinched the bronze medal with a 2-1 win over Tanzania in the third place play-off match.
The competition had kicked off with a depleted participants field after South Sudan, DR Congo and Ethiopia all withdrew from the competition. In recent years the tournament has suffered from multiple logistical problems.
The withdrawals reduced the 12-team tournament to an affair with just nine teams. Last year’s Cecafa Cup had to be cancelled as no host could be found for the tournament. Kenya had been due to host the tournament as defending champions, but pulled out over the financial challenges that staging the competition presented. This time Uganda stepped forward with matches staged at small venues in its southern cities of Njeru and Jina.
“The boys have really been amazing throughout the tournament; they have played six games in 12 days and managed to win all of them. So I am very pleased with the performance especially against a stubborn Eritrean team,” said coach John McKinstry.
It was the first silverware for McKinstry since his appointment in October when he succeeded Sebastian Desabre. In 2015, he had lost the Cecafa Cup final with Rwanda 1-0 against his current employer.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713553387labto1713553387ofdlr1713553387owedi1713553387sni@o1713553387fni1713553387