Goals from Salah Ibrahim and Tahir were enough to hand Sudan three points against Eritrea and take them top of Group C Saleh scored a brace and Tahir added the other in the first half on the wet and muddy pitch to take an early lead.
“The conditions were not very good since the pitch was very wet, we responded well and it’s good to start a tournament like this with a win and no goal conceded,” said Ibrahim
Eritrea who had been poor in the first half came into the second half more re-energized as they sought to overturn the three goal deficit however a goal in the 73rd minute through Megweya Omer but it was ruled offside.
The Cecafa event has remained the only source of proud moments for some fans, whose thirst to see their teams play at continental and world stages cannot be quenched because of poor standards in the region.
Only four countries have reached Africa Cup of Nations tournament in the last 10 years, with just one of those managing to go past the group stages. Sudan played in the finals in Ghana 2008 as well as in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon 2012 and Ethiopia reached South Africa 2013. Rwanda and Kenya reached Tunisia 2004,