The home team, having been edged out in the semi-finals through a
penalty shoot-out by another Rwanda side, APR, appeared still hungry for
success in their first ever major tournament by controlling the entire game.
Before the largest crowd at the two-week tournament, El Merreikh
fought every each and were rewarded by a superb long range goal for the day’s
skipper, Sulaiman Mubarak, in the 76thminute.
The match kicked off at 5.30pm, local time, preceding the 8.30pm
kick off for the Cup final between three-time champions APR and Burundi
champions Vital’O seeking their first title despite being the most regular
representative of their country in the tournament’s 39-year history.
Installing special floodlights to enable a night final was
completed at the El Fasher Stadium over the weekend and El Fasher residents
would be able to watch the grande finale under cool evening conditions instead
of the usual heat of the Sahara. After the Bronze Medal final, the locals were lifted to dizzy
heights making the carnival of song and dance, a prelude to the final, an
electric affair.
The Cecafa tournament opened in Kadugli City, South Kordofan on
June 18 with a Group ‘C’ match. Governor of South Kordofan, Ahmed Haroun, came
to El Fasher on Sunday to lead a delegation for the closing ceremony, repaying
a visit by Darfurians and their Governor,Osman
Mohamed Yousif Kibir,who was at
the opening in Kadugli.
By Gishinga Njoroge
CECAFA Media