Sudan 2 – 1 Zambia (After 120 Minutes)
Sudan becomes the first team to book a final berth in the 2013 Gotv CECAFA football tourney after eliminating former African Champions, Zambia in a nail biting finish of the semi-final match played at the Municipal Stadium in the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa.
Zambia, who welcomed back Rodrick Kabwe to the starting eleven after being sidelined with suspension, proved a better side in the opening 45 minutes with a couple of attacking opportunities through the right wing manned by Felix Katongo.
Sudan recovered in the second half, with vigour and colour that saw them counter attack and play like true tigers.
After 90 minutes of attacking football and solid defending from either teams, the match was drawn to the extra 30 added minutes. The half half of the added minutes bore no fruit and the writing was on the wall, the match looked destined for the FIFA Post match penalties.
Surprisingly, Zambia took the lead with 6 minutes to full time when Captain, Hamoda Bashir slid to grant Ronald Kampamba time to control the ball and fire cleverly past Ali Abdelraham in the Sudanese goal post.
Zambia took a minute to celebrate but on resumption, Miaaz Abdelrahim tapped in for the equalizing goal following a text book move that involved Salah Ibrahim and Abdall Faris who squared the ball to find an unmarked Miaaz, who finished in an empty net after Zambian goalie, Toaster had been beaten on the near post.
Barely a minute to full time, tournament top scorer, Salah Ibrahim paid for the numerous chances he had missed earlier with a perfectly chested ball from the right flank after substitute, Mohammed Abdelmonem played an eye catching pass with the outside of his right foot, before Salah volleyed home the winner that also booked them a slot in the finals on Thursday.
Ibrahim Salah’s strike shoots him aloft the goal scorers chart of the 2013 Cecafa tournament with 5 well stuck goals.
The result implies Sudan will meet the winner between Tanzania and the hosts, who were due to play in the second semi-final at Nyayo national Stadium in Nairobi.
