By Brian Bariyo Tumuramye
Fahad Bayo scored the only goal of the game as Uganda defeated Tanzania 1-0 in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup on Tuesday.
Cranes will take on Eritrea in the finals of the CECAFA 2019 senior challenge cup on Thursday in Kampala Lugogo star times stadium
The Vipers SC striker headed in Mustafa Kizza’s cross with 5 minutes to play, a goal that was enough to see Uganda reach the regional finals for the first time in four years.
It was not a straight forward game for the Cranes and they had to dig deep to overcome a spirited Tanzanian side. Before the goal, Uganda Cranes was wasteful, missing a couple of clear cut scoring opportunities through Bayo, Allan Okello, Bright Anukani and half chances by Kizza and second half substitute Abdul-Karim Watambala.
In the opening half, Uganda Cranes skipper Halid Luwaliwa recovered from an injury scare early inside the first quarter of the game to soldier on.
Speaking after the game, Uganda’s head coach Johnathan McKinstry lauded the Cranes players for their fighting spirit and urged then to complete the job in the final, “I salute the players for the strong mentality shown and great fighting spirit in all the matches played, McKinstry said
“We need to work together as we look forward the final against Eritrea, “We need to win it.” Uganda will take on Eritrea in the final after them Eritrea defeated Kenya 4-1 in the other last four game played on the day.
An own goal by Oscar Wamalwa and strikes by Abel Solomon Okbay, Michael Habte Gebremesqel and Robel Kidane did the damage for Eritrea, Wamalwa scored the consolation for Kenya.
The final between Uganda and Eritrea will be the second time the two sides meet in the competition this year. Their first meeting saw Uganda win 2-0.
Uganda Cranes
Cranes Head Coach : Johnathan McKinstry
Charles Lukwago (GK), Paul Willa, Mustafa Kizza, John Revita, Halid Lwaliwa, Shafiq Kagimu, Bright Anukani, Allan Okello, Joachim Ojera Abdul Karim Watambala), Fahad Bayo, Ben Ocen Viane Ssekajugo)
Tanzania
Tanzania Head Coach: Juma Mgunda
Aishi Salum Manula (G.K, Boniface Mnata Metacha), Hassan Salehe Dilunga, Nickson Clement Kibabage, Juma Abdul Jafari Mnyamani, Gadiel Michael Kamagi, Ditram Nchimbi Adgan, Eleuter Herman Mpepo, Bakari Mwamyeto Nondo, Patrick Kelvin Yondani, Yassin Said Mzamiru, Jonas Gerald Mkunde
Match Officials:
· Center Referee: Diraneh Gueidi (Djibouti)
· Assistant Referee 1: Suleiman Bashir (Somalia)
· Assistant Referee 2: Liban Abdurazak (Djibouti)
· Fourth official: Omar Abdoulkadir (Somalia)
· Assessor: Jean Claude Birimushau (Burundi)
· Commissioner: Othman Suleiman (Zanzibar)
· General Coordinator: Amir Hassan (Somalia)
· Media Officer: Shaffi Abokar (Somalia)
· Technical Study Group: Daniel Yohannes (Eritrea)
