Sunday

Third-Place

Tanzania Vs Rwanda -1pm

Final

Uganda Vs Ethiopia -4pm

Friday

Semi-finals

Tanzania 1-3 Uganda

Ethiopia 2-2 Rwanda (4-2 Penalties)

Rwanda’s Junior Wasps head coach Yves Rwasamanzi has saluted his side for their strong mentality despite losing 4-2 to Ethiopia in an intense penalty shoot-out.

The two sides clashed in the semi-finals of the CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers – Cecafa region – which ends today in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

This afternoon, Rwanda face Tanzania in the third place playoff. The hosts lost 3-1 to Uganda in the quarterfinals also on Friday.

Ethiopia and Uganda face-off in the final today, starting at 4pm.

"We played well, and came very close but the boys made a few defensive mistakes that cost us the ticket to the final. It was their first competitive game of their career, no doubt they are destined for greatness if they keep working hard,” Rwasamanzi said.

Ethiopia opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Mintesnot Endrias Wakjira before Moise Nyarugaba leveled in the 32nd. Rodrigue Isingizwe netted a second goal for Rwanda to hand the Junior Wasps a half-time lead.

Five minutes after recess, youngster Mintesnot equalized to make it 2-2, which both sides hold onto till the final whistle, which necessitated into penalty shoot-outs.

With regular time ending in a 2-all draw, both sides went into spot kicks to determine the eventual winner. Ethiopia won 4-2 as Rwanda’s Moise Nyarugabo and Jean Claude Issa Hagumubuzima failed to convert their penalties.

Both Rwanda and Tanzania will be facing each other for the second time. During the group stage, Rwanda lost to Tanzania 0-4 in the final Group A match played on Tuesday.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw