Thousands salute Ethiopia

Ethiopia lifted the Cecafa Cup at Kenya's expense

Newly-crowned Cecafa champions Ethiopia received a tumultuous welcome when they returned home on Sunday.

Ethiopia won the regional East African championship after a shock 2-1 victory over Kenya in the final in Kigali on Saturday night.

Thousands of people lined up the streets singing and dancing in celebration of Ethiopia's first international triumph away from home.

Ethiopia last won the Cecafa Cup in 1987 in Addis Ababa, where, as African football pioneers, they had lifted the African Nations Cup in 1962.

Absence

Ethiopia's success was witnessed by a few thousand fans as Kigali's Amahoro stadium was barely two-thirds full, owing to the absence of the home team from the final.

For the record, the Ethiopians broke through Kenya's defences in the 8th minute to score through Abay Yordanos.

Shanko Mamoaneye then increased their lead five minutes before half-time.

I'm disappointed but the better team won.

Reinhard Fabisch
Kenya's coach

However, the quality of Ethiopia's game deteriorated in the second half as the team from the Horn of Africa concentrated exclusively on defence.

Kenya's Japheth Waweru missed a second half penalty kick, but five minutes later, the Harambe Stars pulled one back through Titus Mulama.

"I'm disappointed but the better team won. They outplayed us," Kenya's German coach Reinhard Fabisch told BBC Sport Online.

Ethiopian coach Hesrat Haile said that the future looks brighter after the Cecafa victory.

He said: "From now on we should try and reorganise ourselves better to reach our previous glory days.

"More friendlies should be arranged to expose the players and only then can we make our way back to the top.

Rwanda's national team beat their B side in a penalty shoot-out to claim third place in the tournament.