Ibrahim Wanzala: Kenya's Under 18 Goalie Makes Superb Penalty Saves To Push Team To Cecafa Finals

• Eighteen-year-old Ibrahim Wanzala blocked two penalty shots in the Kenya versus Tanzania CECAFA under-18 semi-finals
• This would book the Kenyan team a spot in the finals against Uganda slated for Friday, December 8 after a 4-3 win in the penalties
• Wanzala rose to the occasion after his teammate flunked his shot to give Tanzania the upper hand in the semi-finals

Kisumu - The Kenya Junior Stars are slated to face off with Uganda in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) under-18 soccer finals on Friday, December 18.

The Kenyan squad had a magnificent campaign emerging at top of the Group A which comprised Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan.

Its good run risked a dent on Tuesday, December 5, in the match against Tanzania which ended in a barren draw in both regular and extra times leading to the penalty shootout.

The Kenyan team secured a slot in the finals after routing their southern neighbours after netting four of the five shootouts.

All credit was however loaded on Ibrahim Wanzala, Kenya's main keeper in the two-week tournament.

The 18-year-old showed up when he was needed the most after Eric Oduor flunked his spot to hand Tanzania an upper hand in the play.

Preceding Wanzala's moment of glory was Stanley Omondi's weak shot that ended in the Tanzania keeper's gloves following his stretcher swing to reach the ball.

At this point, Kenya was facing a loss as Tanzania had one shot ahead.

The tournament happened to be the first international assignment for rising finisher Aldrine Kibet made it to the score sheet on Kenya's first day of the campaign on Saturday, November 25.

Aldrine Kibet's first goal for Kenya

Kibet netted the third goal 33 minutes into the game, contributing to the haul with which the Kenyan team went to half-time against Sudan.

The game ended 5-0 to Kenya's northwestern neighbours; other goals were scored by Louise Ingavi (a brace), Tyrone Kariuki, and Elly Owande.

The 17-year-old also sourced the second goal through an assist.

Kibet came into the limelight with his magnificent run with the St Anthony's Boys team during the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) ball games hosted in Kakamega in August this year.

He would then fly to Spain to join the Tarragona-based Nastic Soccer Academy (NSA) alongside Amos Wanjala and Alvin Kasavuli, his teammates at St Anthony's Boys and now in the under-18 Rising Stars national team.