The national team of Eritrea has booked a place in the semi finals of the 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup on-going in Kampala, Uganda.

Eritrea battled to a goalless draw against Somalia in their last Group A game played at the StarTimes Stadium on Sunday.

It is the first time Eritrea qualify for the semi finals of the regional tournament since 1994.

To reach the semis Eritrea beat Burundi 1-0 before losing 2-0 to Uganda Cranes in the second game. Coach Efrem Haile Alemseghed’s team beat Djibouti 3-0 in their next game.

“I am happy that we are finally in the semi finals where we shall play the defending champions Kenya,” added the coach.

The coach made it clear that after losing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to Namibia, they decided to use most of the U-20 players top build a new team.

“I am glad that that majority of the players making it to the semi final including captain Robel Michael Tekle are part of the U-20 team,” added the coach. Uganda was facing Djibouti in the second Group A match on Sunday before press time.

Skipper Tekle said he was happy to be part of the Eritrean team that has qualified for the semi finals of the tournament since 1994. “We are now more determined to perform even better,” added the captain.

The semi finals will be played on December 17th when Uganda face Tanzania, while the defending champions Kenya take on Eritrea.

Group A table standing

                   P     W     D     L      GF     GA     A    Pts

Uganda      3      3      0      0      6        1        5     9

Eritrea        4      2      1      1      4       2       2      7

Djibouti      3      1      1      1      2       4      -2      4

Somalia      4      1      2      1       1       2      -1     5

Burundi     4       0      0      4       2       6      -4      0