Etincelles open with AFC Leopards in Nile Basin Cup

Today Etincelles vs AFC Leopards 8pm Group A: Al Merreikh (Sud), Victoria University (Uga), Malakia (S.Sudan) and Police (Zan) Group B: AFC Leopards (Ken), Mbeya City (Tan), Academie Tchite (Bur) and Entincelles (Rwa) Group C: Al-Shandy (Sud), Defence (Eth) and Dkhill FC (Djib) A SLIGHT change has been effected in the inaugural Cecafa Nile Basin Cup Winners Cup fixtures which will now see Rwandan side Etincelles take on Kenyan representatives AFC Leopards. The opening match of Group B will be the second in the afternoon/evening at the Khartoum Stadium- kick-off is 8pm. At 5.30pm, Mbeya City, a fast rising side in the Tanzania Mainland Vodacom League, after finishing third in their just-concluded season will play Academie Tchite of Burundi. The changes came on the last minute following withdrawal of some teams earlier expected to take part. These include Egyptian clubs Arab Contractors and El Masry who were invited as guests and had indicated, all along, that they would come to Sudan. But ultimately Sudan Football Association officials said that, despite what they termed as “very favourable terms,” the two clubs had to be dropped after they made unrealistic demands. Last minute travel hitches also caused the no-show of Somalia side, Elman. Organisers said it was impossible to fly Elman from Mogadishu, through neighbouring Djibouti, Kenya or Ethiopia, in time. After today’s match, Coach Abdu Bizimana’ Etincelles will face Burundi’s Academie Tchite, which also replaced Flambeu de l’est. The Rwandan side will take on Tanzania’s Mbeya City in the final group game on Wednesday. The Government of Sudan will cater for all the expenses during the competition with winners expected to bag $30,000, and runners-up $20,000 while $10,000 await second runners-up. The quarter finals will be staged on Friday 30 and Saturday May 31, the semifinals will be on Monday June 2 before the finals on Wednesday June 4.

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Etincelles open with AFC Leopards in Nile Basin Cup