Harambee Stars held at home by Tanzania in friendly match
Kenya and Tanzania settled for a one-all draw in an international friendly played at the Safaricom Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday evening.
The visitors scored first, through Elias Maghuli’s header past Kenya keeper Boniface Oluoch in the 33rd minute.
Kenya responded just before the break courtesy of a well taken penalty by captain Victor Wanyama.
Thereafter, the two teams failed to covert scores of chances in a game characterized by spells of exciting moves and individual play, but overally lacking the spark to excite a small group of fans in attendance at the 60,000 seater facility.
Deadly forward Jesse Were missed a sitter after being put through on goal by Mathare midfielder Eric Johanna, while Maghuli and Erasto Nyoni also headed wide from positions it seemed easiest to covert.
PENALTY
For the opening goal, left fullback Aboud Omar was exposed on the wing by allowing a cross from Shiza Ramadhani to find its way to the net via Maghuli’s head.
On the other hand, Wanyama’s well taken penalty was awarded by match referee Yusufu Nsubuga after Ayub Timbe’s mazy run into the box was halted by an illegal foul from a Tanzanian defender.
Kenya’s next matches include two home fixtures against Sudan in a friendly on Tuesday, followed by a dead rubber 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Republic of Congo on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Tanzania will host Egypt in Dar this coming weekend in an Afcon qualifier.