Tanzania/Congo-Brazzaville: Gallant Boys Crucify Red Devils

The national U-17 football team, Serengeti Boys edged closer to realising their dream of reaching the African Youth Championship finals after posting a 3-2 win over Congo Brazzaville in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Serengeti Boys scored three classic goals and could have killed off the tie; unfortunately, they conceded two soft goals against Les Diables Rouges (Red Devils), including a cheap penalty, which stained the otherwise superb performance.

Yohana Nkomola scored a stunning double and substitute Said Makamba added a beauty after Congo had reduced the deficit as Bakari Shime's youngsters went 3-1 up as the game entered the added 6 minutes page time.

But Prestige Mboungou's heartbreaking second strike for Congo Brazzaville put the tie very much in the balance. Shime and his boys will need to avoid a defeat in Brazzaville to enter the country's record books.

The Tanzanian youngsters will go to Brazzaville for the second leg due October 2 knowing that they are on the blink of an extraordinary feat. They are 90 minutes away from a historic place in the continental youth finals.

But they should improve on their defending to make that dream a reality. It was never an easy task for all conquering Serengeti Boys, unbeaten in 14 games.

They worked hard for the latest feat. Congo proved early on that they're strong opponents. They showed that they are far superior to previous opponents Seychelles and South Africa with tidy performance.

Serengeti Boys, backed by a huge home crowd led by the Minister for Information, Culture, Art and Sports, Nape Nnauye, started the game impressively, trading short passes as they prodded their opponents with a couple of early forays into Congo territory.

The visitors, however, were soon into it and made two dangerous attacks, winning a futile corner kick after six minutes and Mboungou went close after 10 minutes. Serengeti Boys responded with a good attack.

Ibrahim Ali did well down the left flank and whipped in a dangerous cross that evaded his teammates inside the box. The game turned into a thrilling end to end affair with both sets of players showcasing abundant skills and they explored opportunities to break the deadlock.

Langa- Lesse Percy went close to opening the lead for Congo in the 14th minute when he beat a couple of his markers before unleashing a powerful low shot that bounced off the post.

Mohamed Abdallah shot narrowly over the bar after a fine move by Serengeti Boys before an outstanding Ramadhani Kambwili produced a classic save to deny the Congolese in the 21st minute. Nkomola produced a moment of magic to give Serengeti Boys a 38th minute lead.

The highly-rated young striker picked the ball outside the box and charged towards the 18 yard box and let fly a stunning drive that gave Congo goalkeeper no chance.

Three minutes later, Nkomola showed the other side of his rich talent. He received the ball on the edge of the box with an audacious touch, teased Congo defence, and hit a clever shot that sailed in off the leg of one defender.

Congo came for the second half more a wounded animal and pressed hard for an important away goal, but Kambwili was proving unbreakable. Serengeti Boys could have expanded their lead after 57th minutes but Muhsin Makame was denied by an excellent goalkeeping.

The visiting side won a penalty after Prestige was brought down inside the box. The brilliant Kambwili guessed right and had a touch on the ball but couldn't prevent Langa-Lesse Percy's from going in.

Embarrassingly, the Boys first choice-keeper picked a muscle injury as he attempted to keep the penalty out and could not continue with the match. With eight minutes to go, Makamba, who had replaced Nkomola, restored Tanzania's two goal cushion with a curled effort from impossible angle but Congo hit back in the stoppage time to make it 3-2.