© Reuters 2002

By Mark Gleeson
DAR-es-SALAAM, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Kenya seek to stretch their unbeaten run to eight matches this year when they face neighbours Uganda in Saturday's final of the annual Four Nations tournament in Dar-es-Salaam.

Kenya have had a mini revival in recent months and are in buoyant form after winning two successive matches at the start of their African Nations Cup qualifying campaign and then overcoming a makeshift South African side on Wednesday.

Kenya beat the South Africa 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the semi-final of the tournament in Arusha while Uganda overcome hosts Tanzania 2-0 in the other match.

Kenya football has suffered from a drought of success in recent years but the country, whose success at the Olympic Games in athletics have made them Africa's most successful sporting nation, are hoping a revival will take them to the 2004 Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.

"This tournament has given us a good chance to prepare for the upcoming qualifiers," said coach Jacob Mulee on Thursday.

Kenyan officials have also promised their players they will share all of the US$15,000 prize money if they beat Uganda.

Uganda will have high hopes of their own after a recent win over Ghana and a draw in Algeria, both high-ranked African footballing countries.

But they were outplayed in Wednesday's semi-final by Tanzania, sneaking their win with a long-range volley from Alex Isarbirye in the first half and a breakaway goal by Yusuf Kinene in stoppage time at the end of the game.

Kenya have lost both previous finals in the annual competition, which features the three east African countries and another participant invited from elsewhere in Africa.

South Africa were the guests this year but arrived with a below-strength team after coach Ephraim Mashaba was denied the use of key players from their premier league clubs, who complained of fixture congestion.

South Africa now play in the third place play-off match against Tanzania in Dar-es-Salaam on Saturday, ahead of the final. Tanzania have lost six matches in a row in a major dip in form after winning the Four Nations tournament, also held in Tanzania, last year. (C) Reuters Limited 2002.