Burundi coach rues wasted chances in regional tourney defeat

NAIROBI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Burundi national football team head coach, Olivier Niyungeko, rued the wasted chances on goal after a 1-0 loss to hosts Kenya at the 2017 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup on Thursday.

Burundi, who have been a revelation in the regional tournament, should have been out of sight after pressing the hosts in the opening half but their finishing let them down.

Having been spared, Kenya resumed the second half with more confidence but neither team could break the deadlock in regulation in playing to a 0-0 draw to force extra time.

Midfielder Whyvonne Isuza struck in the 98th minute of the opening period of extra time to give Kenya victory but Niyugeko saw enough promise in his young side to build a formidable team for the future.

"It was a very tough game with lots of missed chances. We were the better side in the first half but were not lucky. This demoralized my players in the second half but its football. The players gave their best and I am happy," Niyugeko told journalists on Friday.

"We came here to use this tourney as training for the future and I am delighted with the kind of improvement we are making," he added in Nairobi.

"We came with a depleted squad of 20 players unlike other teams who came with 23. We want to try and finish third on Sunday," the Burundi boss added.

Burundi will meet Uganda in the bronze medal match on Sunday after the record tournament winners were stunned 2-1 by Zimbabwe in the other semi final played on Friday. Enditem