Rising Stars fall to Tunisia in second AFCON U-20 tie

Kenya's Rising Stars succumbed to a second consecutive defeat in their AFCON U-20 campaign losing 3-1 to Tunisia in a match staged on Sunday at the 30th June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.

Like the first match, the Salim Babu-led side opened the scores through striker Lawrence Ouma who connected a cross from winger Hassan Beja in the 37th minute.

Kenya failed to hold on their lead as Tunisia equalised in the stoppage minutes of the first half through a penalty kick, converted by Fares Bousnina after Baron Ochieng was penalised for a handball.

Tunisia returned a more energised side and they got their second of the match in the 70th minute after a miscommunication between captain Amos Wanjala and his goalkeeper Wycliford Oduor, which gave substitute Omar Ben Ali a space to tap into an empty net.

Coach Babu introduced Elly Owande, Humphrey Aroko and Mark Shaban to push for a leveler but their hopes were dimmed after another substitute Alaaeddine Debrali scored from a long range shot, with only four minutes to the end of the encounter.

"We didn’t play well comparing with the Morocco match and our defence was caught in areas we did not defend well," said Assistant Coach Anthony Akhulia in the post match interview.

Rising Stars who lost 3-2 to Morocco in the first match will now need to win against Nigeria in their last group B match on Wednesday to revive their hopes of qualifying to the quarterfinal as a third best placed side.