Tanzania’s Taifa stars beat CECAFA cup holders Uganda Cranes in the second semi final game played at Mkapa National Stadium on Friday. Tanzania beat Uganda 5-4 on penalties after the two teams failed to score a single goal in 120 minutes.
Tanzania players celebrate
All Tanzania’s players converted their penalties, and their keeper, Juma Kaseje saved Tony Maweje’s spot kick to become a hero for the 50,000 plus home crowd.
The two teams had cancelled each other out in the 90 minutes of regulation time, and the 30 minutes of extra time did not produce any real difference between the two sides.
Tanzania will feel happy for having avenged their loss to Uganda in a similar tie in Kampala in 2009 at the CECAFA semi finals.
Uganda Cranes who were looking for a 3rd consecutive CECAFA title and a 12th title in the history of the cup will now have to settle for 3rd place if they can beat Ethiopia who lost to Ivory Coast 1-0 in the first semi final match played today.
The 3rd playoff game is scheduled for Sunday before the finals are played a few hours later on Sunday to determine who will win the $30,000 staked by sponsors Tusker. The finalist looser will take $20, 000 while the 2nd runner up will take a cash prize of $10,000.
Uganda Coach Bobby Williamson brought on Sula Matovu for Stephen Bengo but the winger did not have an impact on the final results despite some good displays. Neither did the other two changes made by the Scot have an impact on a disciplined and hard working Tanzania side.
Jan Poulsen, the Danish coach of Tanzania will feel content with the results and his team’s composure given Uganda’s earlier advantage as cup holders and the fact that the Cranes had not lost a match in the CECAFA competitions since 2008.
See live coverage of the match Uganda Vs Tanzania