Emerging Stars survive Tanzania attack to book Ivory Coast in AFCON U-23 qualifiers

The result saw Kenya advance 5-4 on aggregate after their commanding 4-1 victory in the first leg at Nyayo National Stadium last week.

Kenya’s Emerging Stars survived a late scare from Tanzania to reach the second round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) U23 qualifiers despite losing 3-1 in the return leg at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

Kenya now face a tougher test against Ivory Coast in the second round, with the first leg scheduled for November.

Tanzania started the match with urgency, knowing they needed a big win to overturn the three-goal deficit from the first leg.

Shekhan Hamis put the hosts ahead as Tanzania immediately put Kenya under pressure.

The Emerging Stars, however, responded through Andreas Odhiambo, who found the back of the net to give Kenya some breathing space and put the visitors firmly in control of the tie.

Tanzania refused to give up and continued pushing forward in search of more goals.

Source: The Standard Sports