Kenya's Emerging Stars have been bundled out of the 2021 Cecafa U-23 Championship after crushing 4-2 to Burundi on post-match penalties at the Bahir Dar Stadium in Ethiopia on Tuesday.
The teams proceeded to the shootout after the tightly contested encounter ended in a barren draw in regulation time.
Hakizima Issa, Ndikumana Asman, Hakizimana Adolphe, and Nduwimana Franck were all on target for Burundi in the penalties, with Bernard Ochieng and Frank Odhiambo bagging the two goals for Kenya.
Burundi have, consequently, set a date with Tanzania in the finals on July 30 while Kenya will flex muscles with South Sudan in the third-place playoffs a day before.
Burundi emerged top of Group A after thumping Eritrea 3-0 before their hard-fought 1-1 draw against Ethiopia.
Tanzania, who finished top of Group A, has been drawn against South Sudan, the best runners-up out of the three groups.
Kenya greatly missed the services of KCB speedy winger Reagan Otieno whose absence mellowed the attacking force.
Both Otieno and AFC Leopards full-back Lewis Bandi were ruled out of Tuesday’s semifinal clash against Burundi due to injury.
The injury denied Otieno a glorious opportunity to bag the golden boot award after emerging from the group stages with three goals.
During their tie against South Sudan on Wednesday, he fired Kenya ahead in the 51st minute after coming on the end of an enticing pass in the area.
It was the third time he got his name on the score sheet, having also celebrated goals in their opening encounter against Djibouti on Monday.
The Emerging Stars made a promising start to their Cecafa U-23 campaign with a 3-0 thumping of Djibouti in their opening Group C encounter at Bahir Dar Stadium in Ethiopia on Monday.
