Savio Kabugo is carried by teammate Mawejje after Uganda beat Ghana at Namboole.
2015 Afcon qualifier
Yesterday’s result
Uganda 1-0 Ghana, Namboole
Standings
P W D L GF GA GD Ps
Ghana 5 2 2 1 8 6 +2 8
Uganda 5 2 1 2 4 3 1 7
Togo 4 2 0 2 5 5 0 6
Guinea 4 1 1 2 4 7 -3 4
*Table does not include Togo-Guinea result
Yesterday’s result
Uganda 1-0 Ghana, Namboole
Standings
P W D L GF GA GD Ps
Ghana 5 2 2 1 8 6 +2 8
Uganda 5 2 1 2 4 3 1 7
Togo 4 2 0 2 5 5 0 6
Guinea 4 1 1 2 4 7 -3 4
*Table does not include Togo-Guinea result
Kampala
Savio Kabugo definitely took Emmanuel Adebayor’s advice. His committed run
from his half under coach Micho Sredojevic’s frantic urging on the touchline was quite a tale.
from his half under coach Micho Sredojevic’s frantic urging on the touchline was quite a tale.
The central defender arrived in time to connect Mike Sserumaga’s searching corner after a run
that underlined the hard work he has put in during training. Perhaps he
had also taken on Adebayor’s advice of continuing the hard work after
the two defeats to the West Africans.
that underlined the hard work he has put in during training. Perhaps he
had also taken on Adebayor’s advice of continuing the hard work after
the two defeats to the West Africans.
That ninth minute header ensured a crucial 1-0
victory over the fancied Ghanaians in the penultimate 2015 Nations Cup
qualifier at Namboole last evening.
It may not be a collector’s item as he sneaked in on the blindside but will remain in the young man’s memory.
It was the first goal for the Sports Club Victory
University (SCVU) defender in five Nations Cup qualifying games; his
senior debut coming against the same opposition in the 1-1 first leg
stalemate in Kumasi.
Uganda will now travel to Casablanca, Morocco to
face Guinea on Wednesday knowing victory will end the 37 painful years
of absence from the Afcon finals. The Cranes are now on seven points,
one behind Ghana. Togo, who are on six, and Guinea – two points less,
was a late kick off.
Under the watch of close to 30,000 spectators,
Ghana had the earliest chance, Uganda conceding a corner and Christian
Atsu delivering it immaculately. But, Majeed Waris could only hold his
head in frustration after missing the ball.
Uganda’s chance the other end instead drew deafening noise, the Cranes winning a corner thanks to Geoffrey Massa’s pressure on a Ghanaian defender.
Uganda’s chance the other end instead drew deafening noise, the Cranes winning a corner thanks to Geoffrey Massa’s pressure on a Ghanaian defender.
The resultant corner was the moment everyone hoped
for. Sserumaga, on his return to the fold after two years in the cold,
drilled it past everyone in the Ghanaian box for Kabugo, in his virgin
20s, to nod home.
The Usain Bolt-esque gun posturing celebrations
that followed from Kabugo only emphasized the importance of the goal. A
loose fan was not to be left out, sprinting across the pitch and past
Ghanaian goalkeeper Razak Braimah in stupid ecstasy.
Ghana needed something. Waris latched onto a pass
down the left, beating skipper Andy Mwesigwa. The defender applied a
rugby strategy, bringing Waris down to pick his yellow card.
Striker Yunus Ssentamu’s ankle, which has troubled
him all week, soon gave way allowing a first half forced substitution.
Daniel Sserunkuma replaced him. The Gor Mahia striker soon threaded a
delicious pass to Sserumaga but John Boye intercepted.
The second half was an equally open affair, Tonny Mawejje releasing Sserunkuma on the left but Gor Mahia man losing footing.
Ghana stand-in skipper Andre Ayew was kept quiet
before being substituted late on, but even when he created openings,
Atsu and Waris were disappointing.
Substitute David Accam could have rescued a point for the Black Stars but Dennis Onyango saved brilliantly from the Ghanaian’s half volley.
Substitute David Accam could have rescued a point for the Black Stars but Dennis Onyango saved brilliantly from the Ghanaian’s half volley.
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