Kenya national team U20 assistant coach Anthony Akhulia has blamed his defenders for conceding ‘cheap goals’ during their opening fixture of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations against Morocco in Egypt on Thursday.

During the Group B fixture at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Morocco got their campaign off to a winning start with a dramatic 3-2 victory.

The North Africans had to come from behind twice before securing the win in a pulsating contest that swung from end to end.
Rising Stars coach Salim Babu preferred Kariobangi Sharks goalkeeper Bernard Jairo to start between the sticks, while the defensive formation revolved around Collins Ochieng, who started from the left side, Manzur Okwaro and captain Amos Wanjala, who played in the middle while Baron Ochieng started from the right side.

In the midfield, Kevin Wanganya and Andreas Odhiambo took up the role while Hassan Beja, Adrine Kibet and Elly Owade played behind lone striker Lawrence Ouma.

Despite going into the game as underdogs, Kenya started the brightest side and should have taken the lead with only six minutes played. Beja exchanged neat passes with Kibet before putting Owade through on goal, but the latter took time to make a decision with the ball allowing Moroccan defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal to clear the danger.

Kenya scored first in the 16th minute when Lawrence Ouma rose highest to head home Kevin Injehu’s pinpoint free kick, but Morocco levelled matters when a scramble in the box enabled Yassir Zabiri to make it 1-1 at the half-time break.

Zabiri doubled his tally with a sharp header from close range to give Morocco the lead before Hassan Beja rifled in a shot from the centre of the box following clever link-up play with Aldrine Kibet, to make it 2-2.

However, Morocco won the contest in the 78th minute when Reda Laalaoui latched onto a clever pass from Saad El Haddad and slotted past the keeper with composure to make it 3-2. There was late drama when Morocco were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute, but Othmane Maamma’s effort was saved by Kenyan keeper Bernard Jairo.

“The team played well and it is just unfortunate that we lost the match, we created numerous scoring chances that we didn’t really take, but for overall performance, first I congratulate Morocco for the win, we have got two matches to go, we will have to do our best so that we win the matches,” said Akhulia after the game.

“We will try to score goals, we will try to defend well and win the two remaining matches, I won’t really comment on the officiating part, I think the referee did her work, on our side, we were supposed to take our chances, and win the match.

“On the part of officiating, I won’t really comment on that, we were supposed to win the match, and that is my take. We didn’t defend well, we gave, I can call them cheap goals, because looking at the way we conceded especially on two goals, the defence was caught napping, we really didn’t react to situations but I think those are things we can work on in training and come back a better team.”

Kenya pushed for a third equaliser and came agonisingly close in stoppage time when Kibet’s header struck the post. But Morocco held on for three crucial points to go top of the group after Matchday 1.

For Kenya, there were plenty of positives to take despite the defeat, particularly in attack where they showed fearlessness and creativity. Morocco, meanwhile, showed composure and experience in key moments and will be confident going into their next match.

The victory kept Morocco top of the pile with three points, the same number as Nigeria, who are second after their 1-0 win against Tunisia. Kenya are third without a point, the same as fourth-placed Tunisia.

Kenya will next face Tunisia on Saturday, May 4th (kick-off time 18:00 EAT), before they wind up their group preliminary matches against Nigeria on Wednesday, May 7th (kick-off time 18:00 EAT).