Uganda storm CECAFA U18 Boys Championship final

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 CECAFA U18 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP 

Abubaker Mayanja's second-half winner against Rwanda on Tuesday sent Uganda into the final of the CECAFA U18 Boys Championship in the Kenyan city of Kisumu.

The 1-0 semifinal result means that Uganda will meet either hosts Kenya or Tanzania — who play in the second semifinal later on Tuesday — in the final.

For the first game that kicked off at 11am local time inside a fairly filled Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, it was a first half of chances but one that left the default scoreline intact by the time Sudanese referee Alamin Alhadi Alamin blew the half time whistle.

In the early stages of the opening half, Richard Okello was denied by Rwandan goalkeeper Yvan Ruhamyanyiko, his fierce close-range header nearly breaking the deadlock.

On the other end, the Rwandans made strong appeals for a penalty when Ugandan goalkeeper and captain Abdu Magada clashed with Elisa Tinyimana inside his box, the Rwandan forward going down after being played through by Bartazard Ndayishimiye.

Replays showed Tinyimana appeared to have clipped himself as he went down under heavy pressure from Magada. Normal play continued.

For most of the first half, Rwanda got pegged back and banked on blistering counterattacks, with Ndayishimiye the architect of most of those down the left flank.

Ten minutes before the break, Abasi Kyeyune got on the end of a low pass from Travis Mutyaba, but Ruhamyanyiko puffed out to block the effort with his left boot.

In the 44th minute, Kyeyune again got fed in by Mutyaba in similar space and he squandered the opportunity once again with a wild, off-target shot when he should have been more precise.

As the minutes wore on, Richard Okello tested the Amavubi Junior goalie with a long-range shot but it was not enough to deliver the goods, sending the two sides into the break with a lot of retrospection to do behind the scenes.

After the interval, both sides made reforms.

Denis Kisiriko, who scored Uganda's winner against South Sudan in their last group game on Saturday, was introduced 10 minutes into the second half to inject more impetus in the Ugandan attacks.

He must has brought along some good luck charm because just a minute after his introduction, Kisiriko's team found the breakthrough.

After a series of crossfield passage of the ball, Morley Byekwaso's side eventually got the ball inside the Rwandan box. Kyeyune's left-footed shot got pawed out by Ruhamyanyiko, but Mayanja slipped into the area to connect the rebound with his right foot and into the half-guarded goal.

After that opening goal, Uganda remained the brighter side for most of the second half, with the Rwandan goalkeeper doing just enough to keep his side in the contest with fine saves from Mutyaba and co.

In the end though, Mayanja's goal was enough to send Uganda into the final as Byekwaso and co keenly await the identity of their final opponent.