Kenya 3 Tanzania 2: Olunga at the double in comeback victory

Michael Olunga scored twice as Kenya came from behind to beat Tanzania in an eventful Group C contest at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Published : Jun 28, 2019 09:06 IST

Kenya boosted its chances of progressing through to the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages as Michael Olunga scored a double in a 3-2 comeback win over Tanzania.

With both sides having lost its openers in Group C, a win was realistically needed in the hope of making the last 16 - and Tanzania hit the front through Saimon Msuva in the sixth minute.

Olunga displayed his quality with an acrobatic equaliser, though Mbwana Samatta swiftly restored Tanzania's lead five minutes before the interval.

But with Johanna Omolo having levelled for Kenya - who face Senegal in its last group game - just after the hour, Olunga struck again with 10 minutes remaining to claim all three points.

Tanzania showed no lack of confidence in the early stages and was rewarded when Msuva tucked in the rebound following Samatta's strike.

Samatta and Msuva both went close to doubling Tanzania's tally, but it was Kenya who struck next when Olunga finished in style following Aishi Manula's error in dealing with a free-kick.

Tanzania was back in front inside a minute, though, when poor goalkeeping from Patrick Matasi at the other end enabled Samatta to drill home.

Manula did make a superb save to deny Victor Wanyama, but Tanzania's goalkeeper was beaten again when Omolo headed in unmarked at the near post.

And the turnaround was complete when Olunga unleashed a strike from the edge of the box. While he failed to make clean contact, Manula was unable to prevent the attempt going in off the upright.

Key Facts:

- Kenya has won two of its last three games in the Africa Cup of Nations, after winning none of its previous 13 (D4 L9). 
- Tanzania is winless in its five games in the Africa Cup of Nations (D1 L4), conceding at least two goals in four of its five encounters.
- This is the first time Tanzania has scored more than one goal in an Africa Cup of Nations game. 
- Michael Olunga is the first Kenya player to score a brace in an Africa Cup of Nations game. 

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