Kenya Beats Tanzania 1-0 in the first leg of Africa Nations Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium.

An 84th minute goal by substitute Francis Ouma earned Kenya a hard won 1-0 victory over Tanzania in the first leg of the knockout qualifying round of the inaugural Africa Nations Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The match seemed to be headed for a painful draw, the fans getting restless and preparing to vent their frustrations on coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee when Ouma pounced on a cross from fullback Ibrahim Shikanda to head home past Kilimanjaro Stars goalkeeper Farouk Ramadhan.

At 0-0, the Tanzanians were happy, they spoilt chances for Kenya , wasted time as the young Kenyan side of relatively unknown and untested players toiled to find their rhythm.

But Ouma, who had come in at the beginning of the second half for the ineffective Francis Oduor saved the day for Kenya and sent the close to 8,000 fans, among them Prime Minister designate Raila Odinga and ODM deputy leaders Musalia Mudavadi celebrating. The fans even forgot they were baying for Mulee's blood just minutes earlier.

It was a game of missed opportunities for Kenya , coupled by a poor fielding of the first eleven squad.

Flicking header

Francis Oduor failed to impose himself in the midfield overburdening Ali Breik while Aggrey Ongoli did little to keep the Tanzania defense busy. The first half ended with little to talk about save for a couple of half chances by the Ongoli and Levi Mwaka.

In the 32nd minute, Mwaka found space past the Tanzania defense but shot over the bar when it was easier to score. Two minutes later, Ongoli sent in s rifling shot, but the Tanzania keeper was equal to the test.

In the second half, however, the introduction of Ouma, Anthony Dafaa and Fred Ajwang brought more punch in the Kenya attack and solidified the midfield.

Ouma's intent to score was immediately felt just a minute after he came in when he paced past Tanzania fullback Shaban Swed, sent in a cross but Ongoli's flicking header went wide.

Ouma then dribbled past the Tanzania goalkeeper but his shot again went inches out in the 65th minute before a Joseph Shikokoti header from a John Njoroge corner in the 80th.

Happy to have won

But the moment of glory came in the 84th minute, Ali Breik picked the ball from deep in Harambee Stars half, hit the ball upfront, Tanzanian Shaban Nditi headed away only towards Shikanda whose reply met Ouma's head and into the net.

A slim win it was for Kenya , but Mulee was happy to have won.

“The ultimate aim of playing at home is to win and we did exactly that. There was pressure on the team but the win gives us some confidence as we head into the second leg,” said Mulee.

Tanzania coach Maximo Marcio blamed a lapse in concentration for the goal his team conceded but said it was a balanced game, though Tanzania strikers did nothing to test Joseph Rutto in the Kenya goal.

“ Kenya dominated, but we matched them. I am optimistic when we go to Dar es Salaam , we will win by a bigger margin,” he said.

The return leg is in a fortnight. The winners will meet the winners of the match between Uganda and Eritrea in the second round of the qualifiers to the Cote d' Ivoire Africa Nations Championships. The tournament is specific for home based players.