Burundi are the first team to qualify for the semi-final stage at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers in Tanzania.
After seeing off South Sudan 4-0 in their opening Group C match few days ago, the Burundi team collected a second straight win beating Kenya 2-0 on Thursday.
Captain Amini Nshimirimana gave scored to give Burundi after only 10 minutes. After a good build up in the Kenyan half, Nshimirimana made no mistake beat Kenya’s goalkeeper Wayne Orata.
The Kenyan team tried to push forward, but failed to penetrate the tight defending line marshaled by Cadeau Ndayishimiye and Radjabu Nzeyimana. In the second half Nshimirimana was again quick to nod the ball past the Kenyan goalkeeper after 68 minutes to make it 2-0.
Kenya’s Edwin Jumba and substitute Theodore Gitari tried to push forward with shots from outside the box, but failed to score.
It was all celebration for the Burundi team after the final whistle. Jean De Dieu Rukundo, the Burundi coach thanked his team for a job well done to qualify for the semi finals.
“The first goal has been achieved. Now we focus on the semi final,” added the Burundi head coach.
Action continues on Saturday with Kenya facing South Sudan, Sudan battling Uganda, and Ethiopia taking on hosts Tanzania.
With Burundi topping Group C, they now await to face the top team in Group A at the semi-final stage on September 22, while the top team in Group B will face the best second placed team from all the groups.
The finalists will automatically qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.
Group A standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Tanzania 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Ethiopia 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Rwanda 2 0 1 1 0 3 -3 1
Group B standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uganda 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 3
Sudan 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Djibouti 2 0 0 2 1 7 -6 0
Group C standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Burundi 2 2 0 0 6 0 6 6
Kenya 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0
S. Sudan 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4 0
