The Kenya national U18 Boys team, Junior Stars, kicked off their campaign in the CECAFA U18 Boys Championship with a 5-0 victory over Sudan at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium on Saturday.
Louise Ingavi scored a brace with his initial goal giving Kenya the lead in the seventh minute, Tyron Kariuki weaved past the Sudanese defense and placed a through pass for Ingavi who slotted it home. Building on his earlier assist, Tyron this time turned goal scorer notching Kenya’s second goal in the 29th minute.
Aldrine Kibet stretched the lead in the 33rd minute and Ingavi scored his second of the match just before the halftime break. Team Kenya took a 4-0 advantage into halftime. The second half witnessed the fifth and final goal from Elly Owade in the 88th minute.
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Meanwhile, Jean-Baptiste Kayiranga’s Rwanda U18 side enjoyed a positive start following a 1-0 narrow win over Somalia despite playing the second half with a man down. A lone goal from Sultan Bobo Sibomana was enough to inspire his team to victory.
Midfielder Bartazar Ndayishimiye dribbled past two Somalia defenders just outside the box to pass the ball to Sibomana who made no mistake as he sent the Somalia goalkeeper to the wrong side with a thunderbolt strike in the 46th minute.
Kenya tops Group A and they play their second match against second-placed Rwanda on Tuesday at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium. The winners of each group will face off against the runners-up in the semi-finals that will take place on December 5 in Kisumu Sports Stadium. The same ground will also host the final match on December 9.