Kenya U18 coach on why juniors didn’t have best match against Rwanda
By Joel Sang, November 28, 2023Kenya U18 assistant coach Anthony Akhulia insists that their recent victory over Rwanda did not showcase their best performance.
Akhulia attributes this to Rwanda effectively studying their game plan and preparing well for the match.
Kenya U18 coach comments
He however expresses gratitude to the players for their hard work in securing a 1-0 win and earning three crucial points.
“Even though we won, we didn’t have the best match as previously because I believe Rwanda studied us very well, but I want to thank the boys for the good work,” Akhulia stated after the match.
The victory has propelled Kenya into the CECAFA U18 semifinals, with Aldrine Kibet scoring the decisive goal against Rwanda in the match held in Kisumu.
This win marks Kenya’s second consecutive win following their initial 5-0 victory over Sudan, maintaining an unblemished record in the tournament so far.
Kenya U18 goal
In the first half, Kenya dominated, with Kibet finding the net early. Despite Rwanda’s attempts to mount a comeback with ambitious attacks, the host team successfully defended their lead.
Changes were made in the second half, with Rwanda substituting Ndayishimiye for Olivier Rukundo.
Kenya’s head coach, Salim Babu, also made strategic substitutions in the 57th minute, bringing in Duncan Oluoch and Humphrey Aroko for Louise Ingavi and Kibet, respectively.
Despite a late resurgence from the Rwandan side, Kenya held firm, securing the win and accumulating six points in the tournament.