Zanzibar win CECAFA Cup opener after announcing new FIFA intentions

Zanzibar made a solid beginning to their 2013 CECAFA Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over South Sudan in Nairobi earlier today after announcing new plans to join FIFA.

Anthems...Zanzibar (in blue) before the match.

The non-FIFA side made the perfect start in Nairobi when a cross from the left channel was misjudged by goalkeeper Jumma Genaro and 29-year old midfielder Suleiman Kassim was on hand to knock the ball into the unguarded net.

Kassim’s last Zanzibar goals came at the 2012 VIVA World Cup where he scored against Raetia and Provence and the non-FIFA side continued to control possession in midfield after the opener.

FIFA’s newest members were looking threatening on the counter attack however and began to dominate play before half time. Despite this they failed to test Rashid Abdalla and Zanzibar went in at the break with their slender lead.

South Sudan continued to dominate after the break and in the 51st minute Khamis Leyano was twice denied by Rashid with headed efforts. The pressure continued and 2 minutes later striker Jacob Osulu nodded narrowly wide.

Zanzibar managed to weather the storm and in the 67th minute they doubled the lead when substitute Adeyum Saleh Ahmed fired a volley first-time beyond the dive of Genaro.

However the islanders took their foot of the gas and just 5 minutes later South Sudan were back in the game. Another substitute, debutant Fabiano Lako, took advantage of some slack defending to half the deficit. 

Tense...it was a close finale.

The goal was their first at the CECAFA Cup but they failed to seriously trouble Rashid in the latter stages as the non-FIFA side held on for a crucial 3 points.

The win comes the day after the Zanzibar Football Association announced plans to separate from the Tanzanian Football Federation with Steve Menary publishing this story. 

According to Menary a senior ZFA figure stated “we have new facts to prove to FIFA that inside Tanzania we have two separate football entities" despite the island receiving funding from the TFF to the tune of 5 million Tanzanian Shillings for travel to the CECAFA Cup.

Zanzibar take on Ethiopia next in group A meeting the Walias at 14:00 (11:00 UK) on Saturday.

Match information -

Score: Zanzibar 2-1 South Sudan

Goals: Zanzibar - Suleiman Abdi Kassim 5’, Adeyum Saleh Ahmed 67'. South Sudan - Fabiano Lako 74'

Zanzibar XI: Rashid; Bakari [Mkanga 78'], Wazir, Rajab, Khatib; Makame, Kassim, Ali, Juma; Mcha [Mohd 44' [[Saleh 62']]; Badru.