FULLTIME: Uganda 3 -1 Tanzania (4-1 Agg).
Uganda Cranes confirmed their slot at next year’s Africa Nations Championships with a 3-1 win over Tanzania in the second leg of the decisive qualifier on Saturday.
In front of a fair crowd at Namboole stadium, the Cranes made way to the home-based continental players’ showpiece in incredible fashion.
A brace from striker Frank Kalanda and Brian Majwega’s effort from 12 yards completed the mission for coach Micho Sredojevic’s charges. Tanzania’s consolation, the most beautiful goal on the day, came from Amir Kiemba.
Uganda makes a successive appearance at the CHAN finals having taken part in the 2011 event held in Sudan. They comfortably sailed through banking on a 1-0 win acquired in the first leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam a fortnight ago.
For Serbian Micho, it was another clear writing on the walls of Ugandan football. He is yet to lose a competitive game at the Cranes’ touchline since being appointed head coach in May. He beat Liberia 1-0 and Angola 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers before the away victory in Tanzania and he’s made four in four. The 3-1 routing brought about palpable emotion as the players saluted the fans for the job well done.
Before recess, Uganda took the lead through Kalanda on 6 minutes to send the crowd into an early frenzy. But the Taifa Stars brought back hope to their diehards with a great finish from Kiemba, beating Cranes custodian Hamza Muwonge.
Then tension arose as the visitors gained momentum in leaps and bounds. They almost went ahead when assist provider Mrisho Ngassa’s shot was deflected off the cross 13 minutes from half time.
The winger hardly gave right back Nicholas Wadada any breathing space not until the sides returned to the locker-rooms. A brilliant run on the left from Majwega set up a cross in Tanzania’s 18-yard area but Kalanda failed to meet the ball as it had been handled earning the Cranes a penalty.
Majwega calmly and confidently sent Tanzania’s goalie the wrong way to lead again 2-1. With about 25 minutes left on the clock, the Cranes pounded on their opponents’ weak line in a quick counter attack to get the third. Skipper Hassan Wasswa set up Majwega on the left, who beat two defenders before Kalanda finished inside six yards. The victory gave Uganda their 24th win over their neighbors in all their 42 all-time matches.
Line-ups:
Cranes XI: Hamuza Muwonge (GK), Nicolas Wadada, Savio Kabugo, Richard Kasagga, Habibu Kavuma, Hassan Wasswa (Captain), Dennis Iguma, Joseph Mpande, Saidi Kyeyune, Frank Kalanda, Brian Majwega.
Uganda Subs: Ali Kimera, Ivan Ntege, Fahad Kawooya, Simon Okwi, Yusuf Mukisa, Lawrence Ndugga and Augustine Nsumba.
Tanzania XI: Juma Kaseja (GK)- Captain, Erasto Nyoni, Aggrey Morris, Kevin Yondon, David Luhende, Frank Damayo, Athumani Iddi, Amri Kiemba, Mrisho Ngassa, John Bocco , Salum Abubaker
SUBS: Ally Musthafa, Nadir Haroub, Simon Msuva, Vicent Barnabas, Juma Liuzio, Harunah Chanongo, and Yahya Mudathir.