Harambee Stars faced a heartbreaking exit from the Mapinduzi Cup after a narrow 1-0 defeat to hosts Zanzibar in a high-stakes semifinal clash at Gombani Stadium. The loss marked the end of Kenya’s campaign in the tournament, with Zanzibar advancing to face Burkina Faso in the final.
Kenya entered the match in second place in their group, needing only a draw to secure a spot in the final. Zanzibar, sitting in third place with three points, faced the daunting task of securing a win to leapfrog Kenya and advance. Group leaders Burkina Faso had already booked their place in the championship decider.
The game began with intensity, as both sides looked to seize the early advantage. Moses Shumah had a promising opportunity for Kenya, unleashing a curling shot that was saved by Zanzibar goalkeeper Yakoub Suleiman. Zanzibar responded with a chance of their own, as Feisal Salum’s volley went over the crossbar.
Kenya dominated possession in the early stages, pinning Zanzibar in their own half. Despite their control, the Harambee Stars struggled to create clear-cut chances. A well-worked passing move midway through the first half saw Austine Odhiambo fire a volley just wide of the target. Moses Shumah came close again in the 38th minute with a powerful shot that narrowly missed the mark, leaving the score locked at 0-0 at halftime.
The second half saw both teams increase the tempo. Zanzibar’s Feisal Salum capitalized on a poor clearance but was denied by Faruk Shikalo’s quick reflexes. Kenya nearly paid for another defensive lapse when a misplaced pass gifted Zanzibar a chance, but Shikalo once again came to the rescue.
Tensions boiled over in the 70th minute when Aboud Omar received a straight red card for an altercation with the referee, leaving Kenya to play the remainder of the match with ten men. Despite the setback, Kenya pushed forward, with Shumah’s long-range effort narrowly missing the target in the 78th minute.
Zanzibar, sensing an opportunity, pressed hard for a winner. Sued Juma’s close-range effort was thwarted by Shikalo, who kept Kenya in the game with another fine save. However, the breakthrough finally came in the dying moments. Ali Inzaghi rose highest to head home from a corner, securing a dramatic victory for Zanzibar.
The hosts were also reduced to ten men late in the match after one of their defenders was sent off for a dangerous tackle. Despite the numerical parity, Kenya could not find an equalizer in the extended 15 minutes of play.
The result sees Zanzibar advance to the final against Burkina Faso, set to take place on Monday at the same venue. For Kenya, the loss marked a disappointing end to a campaign that had shown promise but ultimately fell short in the crucial moments.
