Harambee Stars were knocked out of the continental tournament on Friday night after losing 4-3 on post-match penalties to Madagascar in the quarterfinals played at MISC Kasarani.
Madagascar captain Nantenaina Elysee, Nomena Lalaina, Fenohasina Gilles, and Heriniaina Toky all scored to lift the Barea to the last four.
On the other hand, despite second half substitutes Mohammed Siraji, Daniel Sakari, and Sylvester Owino scoring, Alphonce Omija and Mike Kibwage missed as Kenya bowed out.
Alphonce Omija scored in the 48th minute to give Kenya the lead before Fenohasina Gilles restored parity for Madagascar from the spot in the 69th minute.
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Kenya begun the match brightly with Madagascar goalkeeper Ramandimbisoa Michel tested in the third minute when he was forced to stretch and prevent the host from taking the lead after captain Abud Omar’s free kick from the edge of the box was deflected on goal by Nomena Tsoa.
In the eighth minute, Alphonce Omija’s lost the ball at the back, forcing Bryne Omondi to rush from his lines and clear the ball with Madagscar forward Fenohasina Gilles ready to pounce.
The next 10 minutes turned out to be a cagy affair as Madagascar proved too physical for Harambee Stars as the center referee Adalbert Diouf from Senegal was forced to stop the match several times with Omar, Boniface Muchiri and Manzur Okwaro fouled multiple occasions.
After settling in the game again, Mike Kibwage sent Ryan Ogam with a long ball that the Tusker forward controlled well set free Muchiri from the flanks who despite having time to think through his final cut back, he sent wide his cross with Ogam and Ben Stanley waiting in the box.
Muchiri continued to be a menace for the Madagascar defense who in the 30th minute were forced to bring him down at the edge of the box. However, he sent the resultant set piece high up and off target.
A slow 15 minutes followed as both teams failed to hit the front with Kenya finishing the half with one shot on target while Madagascar had only 52 percent possession to carry to the 0-0 half time breather.
In the final half, Kenya begun brightly again but this time found the back of the net when Omija met Muchiri’s free kick and headed in from close range for a 48th minute 1-0 lead.
After the restart. Ogam tough he had scored his third goal of the tournament but this time the Senegalese referee ruled out the goal for a foul, penalizing Stanley for pushing Rado Niaina before heading the ball towards Ogam who beat Madagascar goalkeeper Michel with a low shot.
The now loud Kenya’s fans were silenced in the 69th minute when Diouf pointed to the spot after penalizing Lewis Bandi for blocking Heriniaina Toky’s shot with his hand inside the box. Gilles who has been silent most of the time stepped up to level from the spot 1-1.
McCarthy responded by bringing in Austine Odongo in for Ogam and Edward Omondi for Muchiri.
The substitution almost bore fruits in the 73rd minute when Omondi found himself unmarked from the right wing but saw his shot punched out for a corner. Odongo had the opportunity to score from the resultant corner set piece but could only head over the bar.
Madagascar captain Nantenaina Elysee would rise to the occasion when his country needed him most in the 88th minute when Alpha Onyango found an unmarked Omar whose left foot cross would be cleared by from the grasps of a charging Odongo’s foot.
Michel followed his captain with two big saves in added time, first punching away Omar’s corner kick and then stopping Marvin Nabwire’s rebound shot to keep Madagascar alive as the game went to extra time.
Omondi this time was called to action in the 96th minute when Gilles found himself through on goal, sending a mid-range shot that the Kenyan shot stopper easily collected.
A melee in front of goal ensued at the end of the first 15 minutes when Niaina cleared the ball from the line from a Kenyan set piece before Kibwage blocked a one-on-one attack from Madagascar moments later in a game that progressed to being an open one.