Harambee Stars secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Tanzania in their second Mapinduzi Cup match at Gombani Stadium, Zanzibar, on Tuesday evening.
Goals from Boniface Muchiri and Ryan Ogam propelled Kenya to the top of the standings, bolstering their chances in the tournament.
After a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso in their opening fixture, interim coach Francis Kimanzi opted for a more experienced lineup. Key inclusions featured Gor Mahia trio Austine Odhiambo, Sylvester Owino, and Alphonce Omija, alongside Tusker’s Chrispine Erambo, injecting fresh dynamism into the squad.
The first half was tightly contested, with Kenya holding a slight edge in possession at 51%. Despite their dominance, clear-cut chances were scarce, reflected in the limited number of shots on goal.
The second half saw a reinvigorated Kenyan side, with Kenya Police’s Brian Musa dictating the tempo in midfield. Their persistence paid off ten minutes after the restart when Muchiri capitalized on a deflected cross from Daniel Sakari. The Ulinzi Stars midfielder displayed remarkable composure, volleying the rebound into the top left corner to break the deadlock.
As Tanzania pressed for an equalizer, the game hung in the balance. However, a defensive lapse in the 67th minute allowed Ogam to seize his moment. The FKF Premier League top scorer slotted home, marking his first international goal in only his second appearance for the national team.
Tanzania nearly halved the deficit in the 80th minute following a miscued back pass to Kenya’s goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo. However, Shikhalo, representing KCB, swiftly recovered to smother Edgar William’s dangerous cross.
The victory propels Kenya to the summit of the group with four points, surpassing Burkina Faso, who edged out Zanzibar 1-0 on Monday. Harambee Stars will look to maintain their momentum as they face hosts Zanzibar on January 11 at the same venue.
