Eritrea’s youngsters have failed to progress to the semi finals at the on-going after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Kenya in the on-going Cecafa U-15 Challenge Cup on Thursday.

It was all sadness for the many fans who turned up at the Asmara National Stadium to cheer the team.

The Victory sent Kenya to 10 points in Group A, while Burundi with seven points also benefited and qualified for the knock out stage before they even face Sudan on Saturday.

Kevin Wangaya Injehu put Kenya in the lead after 26 minutes when he dribbled past Eritrean goalkeeper Esey Tesfazhy after a quick free kick  before he slotted the ball in the net.

But the Eritrean team cheered on by the passionate home fans later controlled the game and had several shots stopped by Kenya’s goalkeeper Alvin Odari Lwangu. Eritrea’s Temesgen Tesfay had hit shot hit the wood work before cross bar.

In the second half Eritrea stepped up their game before Ahmed Awad leveled matters with a well taken header past Kenya’s advancing goalkeeper.

Kenya’s Gil Harel was later rushed to hospital in an ambulance after a collision withj an Eritrean player. With two minutes to full time Kenya’s substitute Ibrahim Mone Mwaro netted the winning goal. The Kenyan technical bench all run in the field after the final whistle as the home fans walked out in disappointment.

Eritera’s head coach Mekonen Zewde said his team lost because of some mistakes especially in the midfield. “But the boys tried to play good football,” he added. Eritrea will face Somalia in their last Group A game on Saturday.

On Friday Tanzania will face Rwanda, while Uganda take on South Sudan in Group B matches.

Group A standing

                P   W   D    L   GF   GA   A   Pts

Kenya     4    3    1    0    10    3    7    10

Burundi  3    3    1    0     5    3     2     7

Eritrea    3    1    0    2     8    4     4     3

Somalia  3    1    0    2     4    5    -1     3

Sudan     3    0    0    3     0   12   -12   0