Zambian champions Red Arrows have qualified for the semi-finals of the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Interclub Cup after beating Djibouti Telecom 1-0.
Red Arrows started with a 1-0 win against Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC but suffered a 5-0 bashing to tournament favourite Sudan’s giants Al Hilal.
To progress to the next stage, Red Arrows needed a win to finish with six points and qualify as the best second-placed team ahead of Uganda’s SC Villa, who finished with 5 points.
On Tuesday, the Chisi Mbewe-drilled side dispatched ASAS Djibouti Telecom 1-0 in a Group B match at the KMC Stadium. Anthony Shipanuka scored the lone goal for Red Arrows against a Djibouti side in the 21st minute.
Mbewe expressed gratitude to his team for advancing to the semifinals. “In the group, we have won two games and badly lost the other. However, the group stays concentrated, and we are currently making plans for the elimination round.”
Al Hilal defeated Gor Mahia 2-0 in the other match to keep their winning record in the regional tournament.
Al Hilal’s coach, Florent Ibenge, expressed his happiness that his team has won all three games and advanced to the semi-final despite a few players carrying injuries. “We will ensure proper preparation for the knockout round as it necessitates meticulous planning,”
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Hay Al Wadi FC will play Red Arrows, and Rwanda’s APR will play Al Hilal in the semifinals. The final game will take place on Sunday, with all semifinal matches taking place on Friday. The champions will pocket US$30,000, the runner-up US$20,000, and the third-placed US$10,000.
