Young Talent,Christ Ambassadors win as Ligi Cup EA comes to a close

After three days of exciting football, the Ligi East Africa Cup XI that brought together 63 teams and more than 900 players from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya has finally come to a close.

 The games were played at the Ligi Ndogo off Ngong Road and the adjacent Harlequins grounds. Unlike previous editions, this year’s tournament featured adolescents between ages 9 and 15.

Ligi Ndogo East Africa tournament is an annual event that welcomes all the East Africa youth teams to Nairobi Kenya every August. It is a non sponsored tournament run by volunteer Ligi Ndogo staff.

Culmination

Hosts Ligi Ndogo Planets made it to the semi-finals in all categories; only the under 9 team cracked into the finals where they lost 1-0 to South C’s Christ Ambassadors.

Alliance Academy from Tanzania won the U11 category after fending off Junior League (UJL) from Uganda 2-0.
Bundling most favored
A hapless Ligi Ndogo team, who last year lost 1-0 in the U12 finals to Future Zion, was this year edged out by the same score line in the semis by Egan 2.Egan went on to lose 2-1 to Uganda’s Betehel.
Girls Too
Pro Legend beat Christ Ambassadors in the girls’ final to lift the U15 trophy. This was the only category for girls this year. Tanzania’s Future Stars finished third.

Awesome Talent

A well drilled Young Talent Academy from Ngong’ beat first timers Pepeta Foundation 1-0 to repeat as champions in the U15 category in a pulsating final. Talent’s path to the finals was smoothened by the exquisite display of Alex Njuguna a form one student at Brother Beasung School in Ngong’.He scored three goals to help eliminate Celtic 5-1 in the semi finals.Pepeta caused the biggest upset in the tournament when they bundled out hot favorites, Alliance Academy, 1-0 in the quarter finals.

Tournament Best Players
Christ Ambassador’s Clinton Odhiambo,Uganda Junior League’s Michael Waswa,Joe Nyunja from Ligi Ndogo and Makio John from Tanzania’s Alliance are this year’s Honorable Mentions after their captivating displays led their teams to the limelight.
Nakuru All Stars who were featuring in the tournament for the first time, displayed meteoric rise in their quest in all categories and is the team to watch in subsequent editions.

The Ligi Ndogo East Africa cup is an annual event and will be back next August for edition X.

RESULTS: U9 U11 U13 U15  P  H  O T O S