Kenya calls off soccer friendly with Tanzania

Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 23:12:11|Editor: huaxia

NAIROBI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A planned international football friendly between Kenya and Tanzania on Thursday has been cancelled following the death of President John Pombe Magufuli.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) said the cancellation follows consultation with the Tanzanian Football Federation. The match was scheduled to take place in Nairobi.

"The decision has been arrived at to allow the Tanzanian national team and the Tanzanian general public mourn the sudden passing on of the late president," FKF CEO Barry Otieno said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The two teams were scheduled to face off for the second time in a week after Kenya edged their neighbors 2-1 in Nairobi on Monday.

Eric Kapaito opened the scoring for Harambee Stars when he beat veteran Tanzanian goalkeeper Juma Kaseja in the 20th minute before Ayub Lyanga fired in an equalizer on the rebound in the 39th to level the match 1-1 at halftime.

Substitute Abdalla Hassan who had come on during the break settled the contest in the 58th minute.

The teams were using the friendlies to prepare for the final round of Cameroon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers where Kenya will host Egypt before travelling to Togo. Enditem

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