NAIROBI, Kenya, June 2- Nine-man AFC Leopards booked their place in the finals of the Cecafa Nile Basin tournament by stuffing Academie Tchite of Burundi 2-0 in their semi on Monday.
Ugandan midfielder, Musa Mudde, continued his fine goal scoring form by opening Ingwe’s account in the 58th minute with the winners playing with 10 men at that stage after winger Noah Wafula was sent-off for punching an opponent shortly before half time.
Michael Khamati added the second in the 75th but Bernard Mang’oli was given a straight red thereafter to reduce his side to nine but Dutchman Hendrik Pieter de Jongh’s side held on Tchite’s onslaught with backs-to-the-wall defending to prevail.
De Jongh who has now led the side to their fifth straight win at the inaugural tournament made only one alteration to the side that beat Defence FC of Ethiopia 3-2 at the quarters with Khamati getting the nod instead of Augustine Etemesi.
Playing under hot conditions, Leopards who were more experienced than their opponents could have found the back of the net in the 31st after stand in captain Were’s corner hit the cross bar to bounce on the line only to lack someone to slot home.
Martin Imbalambala, Joseph Shiko and Mudde combined well building from the back but with three minutes to the breather, Leopards suffered a blow when Wafula was given his marching orders after he retaliated with a punch when he was hacked down.
Ingwe are on course of making history by becoming the first team to win the competition on top of Sh2.6m (USD 30 000).
