By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: National football team the Uganda Cranes are continuing with the excellent performance they exhibited during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)2019 tournament.
On Saturday, they defeated visiting Somalia national team 4-1 in the return leg played at the StarTimes Stadium Lugogo, to qualify on a 7-2 goal aggregate.
Because of the win, the Cranes eliminated Somalia from the on-going 2020 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier.
Striker Patrick Henry Kaddu, who was part of the Uganda Cranes team at AFCON, scored a hat-trick for the Cranes, while Allan Kyambadde scored the fourth goals. Skipper Daud Abdullahi Tubal scored a late consolation goal for Somalia.
During the game Kaddu converted a penalty after he was brought down by Abdiwali Abdirahman Mohamed in the box. The Somalian team tried to play a highly defensive game, but the home team kept attacking before Kyambadde made it 2-0 after 37 minutes.
Kaddu scored another penalty after 43 minutes after Ayam Mohamed Hussein brought down Uganda’s Allan Kayiwa in the box.
After the interval the two sides made some chances. Mohamud Addinur Mohamed had an open chance to score for Somalia after 46 minutes but shot wide. Two minutes later Kaddu netted his third goal with a well-taken header off a Mustafa Kiiza corner kick.
The two sides continued to create chances till Uganda’s goalkeeper Charles Lukwago made a judgment error to give Tubal chance to slot in Somalia’s only goal.
After their victory, Uganda Cranes awaits to play the winner between South Sudan and Burundi in the final phase of the qualifiers. However, Burundi won the first leg 2-0 and are sent to play the return leg on Sunday, which will determine Uganda’s next opponent.
