Cairo,
EGYPT
Michael
Olunga scored twice as Kenya edged neighbours Tanzania 3-2 in Cairo on Thursday
to keep alive hopes of reaching the second round in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The
Japan-based forward equalised in the first half and scored the 80th-minute
winner in a lively east African derby.
Johanna
Omolo was the other scorer for Kenya, who trailed 2-1 at halftime.
Saimon
Msuva and Mbwana Samatta netted for Tanzania, who have never won a Cup of
Nations match in two appearances spanning 39 years.
Earlier,
Algeria defeated Senegal 1-0 in a foul-riddled first match of a Group C
double-header at the 30 June Stadium and both countries are set to make the
last 16.
Even if
Kenya lose their final group match against Senegal, they will hope to squeeze
into the knockout phase as one of the four best third-place teams.
After
two rounds, former champions Algeria have six points, Senegal and Kenya three
each and Tanzania are pointless.
Coaches
Emmanuel Amunike of Tanzania and Sebastien Migne of Kenya reacted to two-goals
losses in their opening group matches by making three changes each.
France-born
Migne spoke before the match of the need "to start well" but Tanzania
were the more committed side in the early exchanges and led after only six
minutes.
Kenya
goalkeeper Patrick Matasi could only parry a stinging shot from Taifa Stars
captain Samatta and Msuva tapped in the rebound.
The
Harambee Stars were unlucky not to score midway through the half when headers
by Francis Kahata and Olunga struck the woodwork within seconds of each other.
Msuva
nearly scored a second goal when his free-kick from well outside the box was
heading for the corner of the net until Matasi tipped the ball over.
An
intense match produced two more goals inside a minute close to halftime with
Kenya levelling and then falling behind again.
When
Tanzania goalkeeper Aishi Manula flapped at a free-kick, the ball struck
teammate Erasto Nyoni and drifted toward Olunga, whose bicycle kick found the
net.
The
Kenyan joy was shortlived, however, as Samatta punished clumsy defending to
fire the ball into the net and give Tanzania a 2-1 halftime advantage.
There
was no let-up in the physicality from both teams as the second half progressed
and Manula made a superb reflex save to parry a header from Kenya captain
Victor Wanyama.
But
Manula could not prevent Kenya equalising a second time on 62 minutes when a
cross after a short corner was powerfully nodded into the net by Johanna Omolo.
It got
worse for Tanzania 10 minutes from time when they fell behind for the first
time as Olunga fired the ball into the net off a post from the edge of the box.
-
Africa
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