Kenya stuns Tanzania to keep Mapinduzi Cup dream alive

Harambee Stars secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Tanzania in their second-round clash at the Mapinduzi Cup on Tuesday, keeping their hopes of lifting the title alive.

The match, held at Gombani Stadium in Pemba, saw goals from Ulinzi Stars’ Boniface Muchiri and FKF Premier League top scorer Ryan Ogam propel Kenya to four points in the tournament.

Muchiri broke the deadlock in the 55th minute after an intricate build-up involving Brian Musa and Daniel Sakari. Sakari’s perfectly weighted cross into the box found Muchiri, whose initial header was blocked by a Tanzanian defender. However, the Ulinzi forward quickly capitalized on the rebound, slamming the ball into the back of the net to give Kenya a deserved lead.

Kenya doubled their advantage in the 67th minute after a defensive mishap from Tanzania. In an attempt to pass back to his goalkeeper, Metacha Mnata, a Tanzanian defender miscalculated, and disaster struck when Mnata slipped. The lurking Ogam pounced on the error, calmly tapping the ball into an empty net to seal the win for Kenya.

Head coach Francis Kimanzi made four changes to the squad that played out a goalless draw against Burkina Faso in their opening fixture.

The defensive pairing of Gor Mahia’s Sylvester Owino and Alphonse Omija provided a solid foundation, while Austine Odhiambo spearheaded the attack. Shabana winger Darius Msagha impressed on the right flank, earning a starting spot.

The victory puts Harambee Stars in pole position to advance to the tournament final, with one group match remaining. Coach Kimanzi praised his team’s performance and highlighted their resilience and tactical discipline.

“We showed a lot of character today. The boys executed the game plan perfectly, and the goals were a result of good teamwork and determination,” Kimanzi said.

Kenya will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their final group game, with fans hopeful the Stars can bring home the Mapinduzi Cup trophy.