Somalia humble Sudan in CECAFA U-18 championships as Aldrine Kibet fires Kenya past Rwanda

Kenya's Junior Stars have secured a spot in the semifinals of the 2023 Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) Under-18 championships after defeating Rwanda 1-0 in a closely contested match at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu.

Aldrine Kibet, Kenya Secondary School Sports Association’s (KSSSA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) currently affiliated with Nastic Sports Academy in Spain, showcased his prowess by scoring in the 37th minute. The goal ignited celebrations among the thousands of fans present, and Kenya maintained the lead until the final whistle.

Having entered the match following a commanding 5-0 win over Sudan, Kenya needed a victory to secure a spot in the semifinals. Salim Babu's charges are now the first team to advance to the semis, leading Group A with six points and six goals.

After the match, Rwandan tactician Kayiranga Baptiste expressed determination, stating that despite the defeat, their dreams are still alive. He looks forward to edging out Sudan on Friday to secure a place in the semifinals. Baptiste commented, "The defeat is a tough pain to swallow because we played well and contained the Kenyan attack very well. They have quality players within their ranks, and in the end, individual brilliance won it."

In another Group A encounter, Somalia surprised Sudan with a 3-0 victory. Idiris Bilal opened the scoring in the 26th minute, while Mohad Abdulkadir and Mohamed Daud secured the win with goals in the 66th minute and injury time, respectively.

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