Kenya’s Rising Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat to Burundi on Thursday night at Uhuru Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, leaving their hopes of progressing from the U20 Africa Cup of Nations CECAFA qualifiers hanging by a thread.
Amini Nshimirimana scored twice as Burundi followed up their 4-0 victory over South Sudan with another commanding display to move to six points from two matches.The competition features three groups of three teams, with the three group winners and the best runner-up advancing to the semifinals.
Kenya started nervously and struggled to contain Burundi’s attacking threat in the opening exchanges. Nshimirimana quickly established himself as a problem for the Kenyan defence, repeatedly drawing John Junior out of position and winning fouls around the area.Burundi dictated the opening five minutes before Kenya produced its first meaningful threat in the eighth minute. Austine Odongo was fouled, and Armstrong Omondi’s resulting effort forced a smart save from Omari Niyonkuru, earning Kenya the game’s first corner.Burundi, however, capitalised on a costly Kenyan mistake in the ninth minute.
Armstrong Omondi lost possession in a dangerous area, allowing Nshimirimana to race through, round the goalkeeper and finish to give Burundi the lead.Kenya struggled to settle after falling behind, with Nshimirimana continuing to cause problems. He drew another foul in the 16th minute, although the resulting free kick was blocked before Burundi’s subsequent corner was cleared.The pressure continued. Orata was forced off his line in the 20th minute to clear ahead of Nshimirimana as Kenya found itself increasingly pinned back.
John Junior endured a torrid evening against the Burundi striker, who repeatedly looked to exploit the space behind the Kenyan centre-back.Kenya did find an opening in the 26th minute when Rodgers Obusu released Armstrong Omondi, but the latter blazed his effort over the bar.Much of Kenya’s approach thereafter involved attempting to bypass Burundi’s midfield with balls over the top, but the strategy produced little.
The game was briefly halted for a water break in the 31st minute after Burundi’s Roy Amissi went down injured, with the Kenyan bench using the stoppage to issue instructions.The injury eventually forced Burundi into a change at the restart of play, with Amissi unable to continue and Aubin Ntwari taking his place.
Gilbert Selebwa made his first change in the 39th minute, replacing Edwin Jumba with Brighton Nacheri in a tactical alteration.Meet former Leicester City forward called up to Kenya U-23 squadKenya nearly fashioned an opportunity before the interval when Nacheri delivered a cross towards Austine Odongo, whose attempted overhead kick failed to connect cleanly. It proved to be the final notable action of a frustrating first half.
Burundi began the second half with the same intensity. Kenya replaced Quincy Mbugua with Julius Buong in the 47th minute, while Burundi introduced Ntwari for the injured Amissi. The Burundians immediately threatened again, weaving through the Kenyan defence before left-back Radjabu Nzeyimana fired narrowly wide.Kenya were increasingly restricted to long-range efforts, with goalkeeper Niyonkuru dealing comfortably with what came his way.
The second goal arrived in the 54th minute.Abud, Mette on how Tusker’s CAF CC qualification will benefit Harambee Stars at 2027 AFCONA flowing Burundi move down the left saw Nzeyimana combine with Ntwari before the ball found Nshimirimana, who produced a delightful header that looped beyond Orata and into the net.It was his second goal of the evening and gave Burundi a two-goal cushion.Kenya struggled to produce a sustained response. Allan Otieno replaced Rodgers Obusu in the 70th minute as Selebwa sought a way back into the contest.
Nshimirimana almost completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, but his header went straight at Orata.Burundi continued to dominate, with Sympathique Majidi almost making it three after a fast break, but his poked effort went wide. In the 88th minute, Burundi made a double change, with Majidi and Nshimirimana making way for Abdoul Rahim Ndizeye and Jacques Irankunda. Kenya also made two substitutions, with Brighton Otieno replacing Armstrong Omondi and Bravin Omondi coming on for Austine Odongo.
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Ali Ali Sadiki was then replaced by Djibane Kwizera in Burundi’s final change.The final whistle confirmed a second successive victory for Burundi, who now sit on six points, having beaten South Sudan 4-0 before defeating Kenya 2-0. Kenya and South Sudan head into Sunday’s decisive meeting without a point.Kenya must beat South Sudan to finish second in Group C. A draw would leave Kenya on one point, while a defeat would eliminate the Rising Stars.
Even with victory, Kenya would finish behind Burundi and would then need to be assessed against the other second-placed teams because only the best runner-up across the three groups joins the three group winners in the semifinals.The defeat therefore leaves Kenya with no margin for error when they face South Sudan on Sunday.