Tanzania 1 – 0 Somalia
There are 120 places that separate the Kilimanjaro Stars (currently ranked 124 by FIFA) from the Somalia national team (on 204 out of the 207 FIFA members).
Despite that huge gap, Somalia has continued to put up a spirited performance that have seen the side which was walloped 7 – 0 last year by Tanzania only beaten by a lone Athuman Chanongo goal on 57 minutes.
Somali had lost out in the opening group B game to Burundi 2-0 and playing on a soggy ground Nyayo ground due to the heavy torrential rains across Nairobi, they put up a great fight that saw them phase out Tanzania’s most consistent players in Mwrisho Ngassa, Ramathan Kiemba and Frank Domayo.
Much as Somalia never created any clear cut goal scoring opportunities, they were strong defensively and relied much on the counter attack technique spear headed by Jabril Hassan Mohammed, who also scooped the man of the award from the Sponsors, Super Sport (won a GOtv decoder).
“We played well and if we improve by this trend, we shall shock the world”, Somalia head coach, Mohamed Abdulle, who was sent off minutes to the final whistle said after the game at the post match press conference.
The Dane, Kim Poulsen, Tanzania’s head coach has praised the Somalia team with such a great performance. Poulsen used the opportunity to announce the arrival of his two TP Mazembe stars, who are set to join the team tomorrow.
Somalia is officially out of the tourney’s contention for progress to the next level (Quaterfinals) having lost their second game. This leaves Tanzania in an advantaged state having accumulated 4 points (after the 1 all Machakos draw against the 2010 Africans champions, Zambia). Tanzania plays Burundi in last group C game while Zambia will take on the much improved Somalia.
Team Line-ups:
TANZANIA:
Ivo Phillip Mapunda (1), Patrick Kelvin Yondan (5), Erasto Edward Nyoni (4), Mao Himid Mkami (6), Frank Raymond Damayo (16), Abubaker Salum Salum (2), Athuman Athuman Idd (3), Alfan Mwrisho Ngasa (17), Elias Maguni Mrugau (19), and Ramadhan Kiemba (9)
SOMALIA:
Mohamed Sharif (20), Hassan Ali Roble (6), Mohammed Tahili Shidane (3), Aden Hussein Ibrahim (13), Hassan Hussein Mohammed (5), Daud Abdullahi Hassan (4), Sidi Mohammed Omar (18), Mohammed Abi Hayaou (15), Jabril Hassan Mohamed (14), Mohammed Saleh Hussein (11), Sadag Adbuladir Mohammed (10)
Match Officials: Mutaz Khairala (Sudan) – Center Referee, Zakaria Fraser (South Sudan)- 1st Assistant, Tony Kidiya (Kenya) – 2nd Assistant, Anthony Ogwayo (Kenya)- 4th Official, Ejigu Ashanafi (Ethiopia)-Match Commissioner, Bernard Mfubusa (Burundi) -Referee’s Inspector, Rogers Mulindwa (Uganda) and Badri Bakheit (Sudan) – Media officers.