Zambia 2 Uganda Cranes 1

Mar 05, 2014

EVANS Kangwa struck twice as former Africa champions Zambia fought-back to condemn Uganda Cranes to a 2-1 defeat at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium

By Fred Kaweesi

International friendly

Zambia 2 Uganda 1 

EVANS Kangwa struck twice as former Africa champions Zambia fought-back to condemn Uganda Cranes to a 2-1 defeat at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Wednesday.

After a goalless first half, during which the hosts were the dominant side, the Cranes took the lead on 51 minutes through Hamis Kiiza.

Kiiza had just replaced his Yanga teammate Emmanuel Okwi.

However, the Chipolopolo found their way back into the game in the 64th minute when Kangwa directed Chisamba Lungu’s well-weighted free-kick into the net with a brilliant header.

The equalizer seemed to have rattled the Cranes as Zambia continued to dictate play deep into the second half. The reward was a second on 76 minutes.

Kangwa slotted home Chris Katongo’s cross from close range to earn Zambia their second consecutive win over Uganda at the Mwanawasa Stadium. The Cranes lost 1-0 to the Chipolopolo on their previous visit during the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.

The friendly was meant to provide coach Micho Sredojevic an idea of which areas to improve ahead of the 2015 Nations Cup qualifying draw due to be conducted on April 27 in Cairo, Egypt.

If Cranes manage to negotiate their way out of the preliminaries, they will join one of the seven groups that will comprise of four teams each.

The two top teams of each group will then qualify for the Nations Cup directly, along with the third-best placed team from the seven groups.

The 2015 qualifiers will be held in just three months (September, October and November). 

Uganda’s team:

D.Onyango (R.Odongkara), N.Wadada, I.Muleme, I.Isinde, A.Mwesigwa, D.Iguma, M.Oloya (Olaki), G.Kizito, E.Okwi (H.Kiiza), D.Sserunkuma (S.Matovu), A.Khalid.

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