Monday, December 9
*Eritrea 1-0 Burundi

Eritrea upset odds in a 1-0 victory against Burundi in a 2019 CECAFA senior challenge cup game on Monday at Lugogo.

Eritrea played an exciting, free flowing attacking game and could have won it more convincingly.

The Red-Sea boys scored at the stroke of halftime, Robel Kidane slotted home after Fabien Mutombora has spilled an earlier effort.

“This is a big motivation for us to win our first game, Burundi are very nice team but we were better today,” said Eritrea coach Haile Efrem Alemseghed.

Ali Suleiman Ibrahim was denied by the lower post while Ismail Sultan Jahar’s results effort to find Eyob Girmay was cleared away.

Somalia’s Deyben Hintseab had a penalty appeal waived after he was shoved from the back by Issa Hakizimana while Ali Suleiman Ibrahim was denies by the keeper at point blank range.

Eric Ndizeye came close to finding the back of the net for Burundi but his header was collected while Landry Ndikumana’s shot was saved by Haile Kibrom.

“Our strikers were had their chances and failed to convert them and it became difficult for us to come back into the game,” said Burundi coach Niyundeko.