By Brian Bariyo Tumuramye
Uganda Cranes are jubilating after scooping the biggest win of the first-leg matches in the final round of qualifiers for the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) Cameroon 2020.
The CHAN tournament is designed exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic leagues away from home and over the weekend, Uganda Cranes beat hosts Burundi 3-0 with goals from debutante Viane Sekajugo, skipper Muzamiru Mutyaba and left back Mustafa Kizza.
There was no single home win in the Central-East Zone as Sudan and Rwanda also beat Tanzania and Ethiopia 1-0 respectively away.
However, the biggest shocks were in the West B Zone where Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo recorded wins over Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria respectively; the local Stallions beat the Ghana Black Stars 0-1 away from home, Togo hammered Nigeria 4-1 while Niger shocked Ivory Coast with a 2-0 home win.
In the Central Zone, former winners DR Congo earned a 2-0 away win against Central African Republic in Bangui while Congo Brazzaville held hosts Equatorial Guinea in a four goal thriller.
In the Southern Zone, Zimbabwe beat Lesotho 3-1, Zambia narrowly edged Eswatini 1-0 away from home and Madagascar beat Namibia 1-0.
Elsewhere, Morocco drew goalless with Algeria in the North Zone while Tunisia won 1-0 at home against Libya, Mauritania held Mali and Senegal won 1-0 against Guinea Conakry.
The second leg matches take place next month with the aggregate winner making it to the finals of the tournament designed exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic leagues.
RESULTS
Central Zone
Central Africa 0-2 DR Congo
Equatorial Guinea 2-2 Congo
Central-East Zone
Burundi 0-3 Uganda
Ethiopia 0-1 Rwanda
Tanzania 0-1 Sudan
South Zone
Eswatini 0-1 Zambia
Madagascar 1-0 Namibia
Zimbabwe 3-1 Lesotho
North Zone
Algeria 0-0 Morocco
Tunisia 1-0 Libya
West A Zone
Mauritania 0-0 Mali
Senegal 1-0 Guinea
West B Zone
Togo 4-1 Nigeria
Niger 2-0 Cote d’Ivoire
Ghana 0-1 Burkina Faso
