- Image by Getty Images via @daylife
By Katondwaci Marvin
Burkina Faso are through to the final of the African U17 Championship after a penalty shoot-out win over Congo Brazzaville in their semifinal match. The match in Kigali ended 1-1 after normal time and the score stayed the same despite extra-time.
Burkina Faso won the resulting penalty shoot-out 4-2. Stevy Epako put Congo in front after 33 minutes but his goal was canceled out early in the second half by Bertrand Traore of Burkina Faso.
Saturday’s game will be the Burkinabe’s second African U17 final – the
first time they reached the last two was in 1999 when they were beaten
3-1 by Ghana.
They will play either Rwanda or Ivory Coast in the final, who meet in Wednesday’s semi-final in Kigali. All four semifinalist (Congo, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso) have already qualified for the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be hosted in Mexico from June 18 to July
10.
UGANDA CRANES SWITCH ATTENTION TO THE AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Uganda Cranes are now focusing on the African nations Championship
(CHAN) in Sudan after finishing runners up in the inaugural Nile basin tournament in Cairo Egypt. The cranes who were beaten 3-1 by hosts Egypt were the surprise team of the tournament having assembled a 3rd string side.
They however managed to beat CHAN champions DRC in the semi final. Cranes coach Robert “Bobby” Williamson during a Press Conference in Kampala Uganda at the Federation of Uganda Football Association Head quarters said he was very proud of the team.
“My goal was to win the tournament however we were beaten by a better team, with more resources than we have. I am very proud of my boys and now we shall focus our attention to the CHAN in Sudan.” said the Scot
Meanwhile the federation of Uganda has promised to reward the players after they received a cheque of $120.000 for finishing runners up in the tournament.
The President of the Federation Lawrence Mulindwa said ” The players efforts will not go unnoticed and they should not be worried at all, the technical team will also get a percentage of the prize money that i can assure you.”
The players will however start training in a weeks time since many of them have to go back to their respective domestic clubs to play local league football.
The players who represented the country during the Nile basin tournament are likely to be the same to travel to Khartoum for the CHAN, however cranes coach Bobby Williamson says no one is guaranteed a place in the starting line up. “every player hasto fight to keep his place in the national team and no one is assured of a place in the starting 11” said the former Kilmarnock coach.
TEKO MODISE SUSPENDED BY ORLANDO PIRATES.
Teko Modise has been barred from Orlando Pirates training ground because he absconded from training without leave or consent of his club. An internal investigation has been set up where the 29 year old Bafana Bafana player will be able to defend himself.
Teko Modise is on suspension with full pay and benefits until the investigation is concluded.
Reports claim Modise’s home had been burgled and that’s apparently the reason he left camp on Friday because his wife was traumatized and had to be treated for shock in hospital. Modise then returned on Saturday, a few hours before the match, which didn’t go down well with coach Ruud Krol.
However, the facts, as Pirates state, will be established during the investigation.
