East Africans on the Rise! (part I)

This years CAF cup qualifying campaign looks different from any other previous ones as the always forgotten east Africans are now on the rise and challenging the ever dominant westerners. Take for instance Tanzania, a minnow even by the Eastern standard, have a chance to qualify ahead of world cup quarter finalist and one time(not so long ago) CAF finalist, Senegal! Coached by a Brazilian, Tanzania is level on point with Senegal and a win at home on their next match could book them a trip to Ghana in January.

The other team from CECAFA region is Uganda who rivived their hopes of qualifying by beating africa's giant Nigeria and hopefuly thier next two wins will put them to Ghana as well. The other team from this lowly region is Eritrea, who is having a great campaign so far, and a win combined with other group matches going in their favour qualifies them to Ghana for the first time ever. Burundi, with six points and two games left have a good chance of going through if they can beat the favourite of the group egypt. As i described on my prevoius blog below, its better to write off Ethiopia as the chance of qualification is next to none.

Of all the teams from the region, no one betters Sudan who made it through to Ghana for the first time in many, many years which they did it in style with four wins (as many away wins as home) and one more game to play at home.

However disappointed i am by ethiopia's team, i am proud of those teams from this region who are putting a real effort to change the status quo of African football and they deserve credit. Soon we might see more and more of east african teams in the CAF cup.

Good luck to all of them!!!