It is Sudan- New CECAFA Champions!

Sudan celebrated winning the Cecafa Challenge Cup

Sudan won the Cecafa Challenge Cup in Tanzania by beating Rwanda 4-2 on penalties after the two sides were locked at 2-2 after extra-time.

The Sudanese scored the opening goal when Abdelhamid Amarria outsmarted two Rwandan defenders to head home his sixth goal of the tournament from a cross from Saifldin Ali Idris.

Amarria is one of only two senior players in a mainly second-string Sudan team at the East and Central African championship and finishes as the tournament's top scorer.

Sudan extended their lead just 20 seconds into the second half when Madther Eltaab outpaced two Rwandan defenders to slot home a high ball direct from the kick-off.

Rwanda pulled a goal back two minutes later when Olivier Karekezi passed for Haruna Niyonzima to finish off a good move.

The pressure from Rwanda continued and on 59 minutes the DR Congo-born Abed Mulenda levelled matters with a diving header from just inside the area.


Sudan's Abdelhamid Amarria was the top scorer at the Cecafa Cup

Both sides were cautious in extra-time with Rwanda dominating but failing to score to send the game to penalties.

Sudan converted all their four penalties through Gabir Balla, Abdelrahman Ibrahim, Omer Nasradin and keeper Akram Salim.

Rwanda's penalties were converted by Manfred Kizito and Olivier Karekezi while Ismael Nshinamagara and Elias Ntaganda both missed the target.

Tagel Abbas, the Sudan coach, said after the game: "We're happy to have won a tough game and as I said, the boys have been improving day after day.

"From here ten players will join the senior team for the African Cup of Nations training camp in Spain."

Rwanda coach Josip Kuze felt his side deserved more from the game.

"We lost on penalties although we deserved to win, that's football, it a good achievement for us reaching the final," he said.

"We're now going to prepare this young team for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers."

Sudan reached last year's Cecafa final in Ethiopia, where they lost to guest team Zambia - who were only allowed to take home the prize money leaving the Sudanese with the trophy.

Meanwhile Uganda clinched third place with a 2-0 win over Burundiwith Hamisi Kitagenda got both goals for the Cranes

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