Fayaz's Last-16 fate hangs in Balance in Sisi Ni Dola Cup tourney

By Harrison Kivisu

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Defending champions Fayaz FC face an anxious wait to discover whether they will reach the Sisi ni Dola Cup Round of 16 after being held to a dramatic 4-4 draw by Nabadda FC in their final Group Stage match at the Mombasa Sports Club.

The defending champions must now wait and hope their four-point haul is enough to secure one of the tournament’s best third-placed qualification spots as the remaining group fixtures are completed.

Fayaz fc needed victory to book automatic qualification but surrendered that opportunity in a pulsating encounter that produced eight goals and several momentum swings.

“We played well, but our opponents took advantage of our mistakes at the defense, its football but all is not lost for us, it was not easy because all teams in the tournament are training hard,” said Jaffar Mohamed Fayaz Fc assistant coach,

The draw leaves Fayaz third in their group on four points, with a healthy goal tally of eight, but their fate now rests on the performances of other teams and confirmation from the tournament committee on the best third-placed sides.

Fayaz made the perfect start when Joshua Oyoo fired them ahead after just three minutes, finishing from Abdalla Mwinyi’s assist. Oyoo doubled his tally four minutes later, again benefiting from Mwinyi’s creativity, to hand the holders a commanding early advantage.

Nabadda responded before the break through Izzadin Ramadhan, who pulled one back in the 21st minute, before Steve Jiragwa levelled matters with a strike in the 33rd minute to send the teams into halftime locked together.

The second half continued at a frantic pace. Hamiid Mohamed restored Fayaz’s lead in the 55th minute after being set up by Oyoo, before Abdalla Mwinyi got on the scoresheet himself eight minutes later, finishing another move involving Oyoo to make it 4-2.

But Nabadda refused to give in. An own goal by Ali Abdalla in the 82nd minute reignited their comeback before Jiragwa struck again two minutes from time to complete his brace and rescue a point for his side.

Jiragwa’s outstanding performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

The match also saw three yellow cards issued. Mubarak Juma was cautioned for Nabadda in the 38th minute, while Fayaz’s Hassan Swaleh and Omar Samobwana went into the referee’s notebook in the 34th and 49th minutes respectively.

In another match Magongo United exited the tournament after suffering a 0-1 defeat by Green Eagles in the same group match played at ground B.

Speaking after the match SISI NI Dola tournament organizing committee member Farouk Faisal said only fout teams will proceed to the round of 16 as best losers after vetting.

“We are progressing well in the tournament, we are now entering the round of 16 and after the group stage we will have to vet the best number three. So far Magogo has faced exit. Only 4 best losers will proceed to round of 16,”he said.