NAIROBI, Kenya, November 30- Harambee Stars chances of making the quarterfinals of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup received a boost when Group C rivals Malawi and Sudan played out a barren stalemate on Wednesday.
Having secured a 2-0 victory against Ethiopia earlier at the Dar-es-Salaam Stadium, Stars sat back to witness Sudan blow the group wide open when they held the side that beat them by a similar margin on Monday.
Following the encounter, Malawi top the pool on four points as Kenya moved from bottom to second on three with Sudan (two) and Ethiopia (one) prop the standings.
In the first goalless tie of this year’s tournament, Malawi looked subdued as compared the slick side that ran Stars rugged as Sudan took the early initiative, with Omar Ahmed testing The Flames custodian Charles Swini from range in the opening exchanges.
Banda namesakes, Frank and John both failed to connect with a cross from Emmanuel Zoya at the far post to spurn the first clear cut opportunity of the match on 19 minutes.
The latter who scored Malawi’s opener in their match against Stars then failed to score from a rebound after his team captain who netted the second from the spot on Monday, Joseph Kamwendo sent a free-kick that was parried back to play in the 44th.
Upon restart, Mohammed Tahir spurned another opening for Sudan when his trickery on the box saw him off-load a tame shot straight to Swini five minutes after the break.
The forward went close again in the 69th when his effort went wide after creating space to shoot after cutting in from the right winger.
Malawi take on Ethiopia in their final pool match as Kenya entertain Sudan where a draw for the Flames will see them through as long as Stars win their last game.
