Azam FC (Tanzania) 0-0 El Merriekh (Sudan) – El Merriekh win 4-3 on penalties.
Jamal Salim was the hero for Sudan side El Merriekh after he saved Lionel Saint Preux penalty in the shootout to send his side through to the semi-finals of the 2014 CECAFA Kagame Cup.
Following a goalless draw, El Merriekh won the shootout 4-3 despite falling back as they lost their first kick thanks Ally Mwadini who saved Ahmed El Basher’s kick.
There was less to write about in the first half though Azam FC showed more intent of find an early goal.
Kipre Herman Tche Tche had the first real chance of the game as early as the 3rd minute but his low shot just missed target with Jamal Salim well beaten.
The second real threat came in the 29th minute when Lionel Saint Preux beat two of his markers before shooting his ball towards goal was parried away by Salim.
El Merriekh who were now fully settled in the game made their first attempt on target through Gabir Abdu Mohammed three minutes later but Ally Mwadini in Azam goal was alert.
Tche Tche then got another chance after receiving a good through ball from twin brother Wilfred Bolou but his shot missed target by inches.
In the 40th minute, John Bocco almost made it 1-0 for the Tanzanian champions but his attempt was blocked by Ali Gaffer Hussein near the goal line.
The second half was more of El Merriekh as they gave more in attack than their opponents. Mohammed Traore came close to scoring on two occasions shooting wide in the 52nd minute and then side netting on the half hour mark.
Azam FC was forced into substitute when Bocco suffered injury and replaced with Burundian Didier Kavumbagu.
Azam’s first second half threat came in the 62nd minute when Kipre Tche Tche shot towards goal but Jamal Salim parried the ball into corner which they later defended superbly.
El Merriekh coach Burhaneldin Yousief introduced Ragi Abdalate Abdalla for Ramadan Agab and later Allan Wanga for Gabir Abdu Mohammed and the move almost paid dividends as Wanga got a good chance in the 85th minute but his shot on the edge of the 18 yard box was blocked by Aggrey Morris for corner.
Despite a late surge from Azam in search for a winner, the final whistle blew with both teams still tied on 0-0 letting penalties to decider the winner.
In the shootout, El Merriekh scored through Ayman Said Mohammed, Al Gafer Hussein, Allan Wanga and Magdi Abdelatif while Azam’s only scores in the shootout were by Erasto Nyoni, Didier Kavumbagu and Aggrey Morris while Lionel Saint Preux and Shomari Kapombe missed.
It was the third game to be decided on penalties in the tournament and El Merriekh now awaits the winner between KCC FC and Atlabara FC.
