Kenya: Paka Mauled

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Francis Wadegu

13 June 2011

Sofapaka’s brave safari in the merciless jungles of continental football came to a cruel end yesterday when they were knocked out 4-3 on aggregate by Club Africain despite beating the Tunisians 3-1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

A task that looked improbable after the 3-0 first leg loss in Tunisia took an impossible turn in the 22nd minute when dangerman Ezekiel Ndouasale put Africain ahead. This followed a period of dominant possession that gave George Opiyo, keeping goal for the FKL Cup champions, no chance. The goal left Kenya’s representatives in the CAF Cup needing to score five unanswered goals to proceed into the last eight.

Francis Kimanzi’s side had started without the talented Congolese-born duo of Bob Mugalia and Patrick Kagogo and lacked the speed to counter the Tunisian who played with all the experience of seasoned predators

Kimanzi learning the fault of leaving out his two tricky wingers sent on Kagogo for John Njoroge and Sofapaka started looking like they could make a match out of this tie.

Immediately John Baraza looking out of sorts missed a glorious chance to draw the Batoto Ba Mungu level.

Still huffing and puffing Kimanzi’s men went for broke in search of goal and they were rewarded five minutes before half time when Dodo Kayombo, given a rare start, turned and beat Sammy Nesri in the Africain goal as the half ended 1-1.

The second half saw the introduction of Mugalia for the goalscorer, Kayombo and Thomas Wanyama as Sofapaka looked to turn on the screw on their opponents. It looked like Sofapaka’s day was just about to be ended when Ndouasale was fouled by Edgar Ochieng. Africain “scored” but the effort was ruled out for offside to the relief of Sofapaka and their fans

Mugalia and Kagogo lit the match as Sofapaka went hunting for goals and they could have got one in the 66th minute as Kagogo missed a great chance. As the game looked to be ebbing away from the Kenyan side Baraza came up with a goal, heading in Kagogo’s corners in the 74th minute to give Sofapaka their first lead in the tie.

Sofapaka kept attacking throwing all caution to the wind and their chance of remaining in this tourney rested on scoring three more goals.

With six minutes to go John Onami, hitherto kept under wraps by the Tunisians, bundled the ball home in a goalmouth scramble.

Sadly it proved the last goal of the match as Sofapaka were bundled out and Africain proceeded to the last eight of the tournament.

AllAfrica – All the Time