A determined Somali team on Saturday held Eritrea to a 1-1 draw in the last Group A match at the on-going Cecafa U-15 Challenge Cup.

Fresh from stopping Sudan few days ago the Somalia team attacked from the start of the game with Ali Mohamed Nur and Mohad Abduqadir causing the Eritrean defenders all sorts of trouble.

Somalia’s skipper Daud Omar Mohamed failed to convert a penalty after 22 minutes when his attempt hit the pole and returned into play. Eritrea’s Abdela Mohamed had brought down Ali Mohamed Nur in the box.

With two minutes to half time Eritrea’s Naod Habtom had his shot parried away for a corner by Somalia’s goalkeeper Omar Abdinasir.

On resumption Somalia took the lead through Mohad Abduqadir after a scramble in the box following a corner kick. But the home side continued to attack to try and find an equalizer.

Temesgen Tesfay made it 1-1 with a well taken free kick that beat the Somali goalkeeper after 53 minutes. The two teams continued to create scoring chances, but to no avail. Eritrea finished third in the Group with four point, while Somalia was fourth also with four points.

Mekonen Zewde, the Eritrean coach blamed the poor performance to few weeks of preparation. “Some of the teams we played like Kenya even played in Europe,” added Zewde.

The earlier match Burundi defeated Sudan 4-0. Florien Inteyiteka, Adamo Mugisha, Jean Charlemagne Iteriteka and Patrick Nduwimana scored the goals.

Burundi will now wait to face the team that leads Group B in the semi finals, while Kenya will take on the team that finishes second.

Group A standing

                P   W   D    L   GF   GA   A   Pts

Kenya     4    3    1    0    10    3    7    10

Burundi  4    3    1    0     9     3    6    10

Eritrea    4    1    1    2     9     5     4     4

Somalia  4    1    1    2     5     6    -1     4

Sudan     4    0    0    4     0   16   -16   0