The 2013 CECAFA Cup is at the business end of the tournament with the four teams left in the competition. Hosts Kenya will play against Tanzania while Zambia and Sudan clash in the other semi-final on Tuesday 10 November.
Tanzania knocked out holders Uganda, Kenya accounted for Rwanda in the quarter finals. Zambia needed a penalty shoot-out to dispatch Burundi and Sudan beat Ethiopia 2-0 to reach the semis.
CECAFA LOC chairman and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya announced that the Kenya versus Tanzania match would be at the Machakos Stadium while the Zambia against Sudan would be played at the Mombasa County Stadium.
Zambia is looking to reach first Cecafa Cup final appearance since 2006 when they beat Sudan 11-10 on post-match penalties after a scoreless draw. And like in 2006, Zambia is taking part in the Cecafa Cup as guest side from the Cosafa zone. Coach Patrice Beaumelle welcomes the return from suspension of key defenders Roderick Kabwe and Bronson Chama after missing out against Burundi. The match sees the current tournament top marksmen Ibrahim Salah of Sudan and Zambia’s Festus Mbewe on four and three goals respectively as they compete for the golden boot.
Salah is very familiar to Zambia after scoring a stunning equaliser in June when the two sides met in a 2014 World Cup Group D qualifier that ended 1-1 in Ndola.
Meanwhile hosts Kenya under guidance of coach Adel Amrouche will look to upset another neighbour in Tanzania after eliminating defending champions Uganda. Amrouche told the media that his charges had played very well against Uganda Cranes but need to do the same to have any chance of progressing to the finals as they were up against a good Tanzanian side. Tanzanian coach, Kim Poulsen will be looking to on form striker Mrisho Ngassa to lead the onslaught aided by Mbwana Samatta and Thomas Ulimwengu. Tanzania’s goalkeeper Ivo Mapunda will relish the clash against club mates. Mupunda plays his club football in Kenya with Gor Mahia but says on Tuesday he will be seeking to win with his national team. The Kenyans on the other hand will be expecting fire power from Allan Wanga, Jacob Keli and Jockins Atudo.
The final is on Thursday December 12 in Nairobi at Nyayo Stadium as Kenya marks its 50 independence anniversary.
Confederation of African Football News
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