By Brian Bariyo Tumuramye
Djibouti: Uganda Cranes picked a vital 3-1 win over Somalia in the first leg of the 2020 Total Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier.
Patrick Henry Kaddu gave Uganda Cranes the lead when he converted a penalty seconds to the end of first half at the Al Haji Hassan Guled Stadium in Djibouti.
The hosts Somalia opted to host the game in Djibouti because of the unstable security situation in their country.
Somalia led by skipper Feysal Ahmad Hassan and Said Calibana Hajji
tried to play a highly defensive game, but the Cranes stepped up their
game in the second half to score two more goals.
Another KCCA FC player Mustafa Kizza made it 2-0 after 64 minutes
before Taddeo Lwanga also scored on 83 minutes. Farhan Mohammed Ahmad
scored a consolation goal for Somalia after 84 minutes.
“We are happy to get a win in an away game. We now need to get back
and prepare well for the return leg in Kampala,” said Uganda Cranes
interim coach Abudallah Mubiru after the game. (jacksonholebagels.com)
The Cranes will host Somalia in the return leg on August 3rd at the
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo. In-case Uganda Cranes win they will face the
winner between South Sudan and Burundi. The Burundi team started the
campaign with a 2-0 home win over South Sudan on Saturday. In the first
match played around the CECAFA region on Friday Ethiopia defeated hosts
Djibouti 1-0. On Sunday Tanzania will host the Harambee Stars of Kenya
in what promises to be a thriller. The two sides faced off in the just
concluded 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Kenya winning
3-2.
The CHAN tournament is played by locally based players playing in the
domestic leagues of the respective countries. Morocco are the defending
champions.
