Somalia defeated Amavubi U17 5-4 on penalties on Saturday after a 1-1 draw at Kigali Pele Stadium, ending the hosts’ hopes of reaching the final of the CECAFA qualifiers for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
The semi-final on October 17 was decided by a shoot-out after Patrick Ujeneza’s second-half opener for the hosts was cancelled out four minutes later by Somalia.
The hosts started strongly, pressing forward and creating several chances, but Somalia’s goalkeeper and defence kept them at bay. The first half ended goalless.
Amavubi continued to attack after the break and eventually took the lead in the 63rd minute. Ujeneza beat Somali defenders before finishing to put the hosts ahead.
Somalia responded four minutes later when Mohamud Osman capitalised on a failure to clear the ball in the Amavubi defence and struck to level the score.
Neither side found a winner in the remaining minutes, sending the match to penalties.
Amavubi missed three of their seven attempts through Charles Kwizera, Ujeneza and Isaac Ndizeye, while Somalia converted five to secure a place in Monday’s final.
The defeat means the hosts will face Ethiopia in the third-place play-off on October 19, with the winner claiming the remaining CECAFA qualification place for the 2027 continental tournament in Egypt.
Somalia will meet Uganda in the final after the Ugandan side defeated Ethiopia 4-0 in the other semi-final. Both finalists have secured qualification for the continental competition.
The final and third-place play-off are scheduled for Monday at Kigali Pele Stadium.
