Africa

Kenya To Play Zambia In CECAFA Challenge Cup Opener

The 2009 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup pooling has been released…

Nov 21, 2009 5:19:58 PM

Kenya training - HS midfielder Noah Apichi

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Kenya training - HS midfielder Noah Apichi

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The hosts of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, Kenya have been drawn in Group A together with African Nations Cup-bound Zambia, 2004 and 2005 Senior Challenge Cup champions Ethiopia and minnows Djibouti.

Pool B has the reigning Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) champions Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Eritrea and perennial campaigners Somalia. In pool C, defending champions Uganda will battle aganst Tanzania, Burundi and Zanzibar.

Kenya’s Harambee Stars head coach Twahir Mihiddin who said on Thursday that his boys are looking forward to winning the title which they last clinched six years ago, was satisfied with the pooling.

"If you look at the teams, this is a tough group and we have to be alert throughout. It is good because it will keep us on our toes," Muhiddin told Daily Nation.

Kenya will open the tournament with a difficult outing against guest side Zambia at Nyayo National Stadium on November 28.

"Zambia are going to Angola and have been a very consistent team in Africa. This will be a very important match that will set the tone for us. We must safely negotiate the group phase before we can think about winning the cup," Muhiddin said.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals together with the best two third placed finishers. Groups A and B will be based in Nairobi while Group C will be in Mumias town.

Nyayo National Stadium, in addition to hosting some of the preliminary matches will also stage both semi-finals and the final. This is the first time since 1994 that the Challenge Cup will be held in Kenya.

James Momanyi, Goal.com

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