Congo Brazzaville 3 Uganda 1
Mar 01, 2012
A ten-man Uganda Cranes side went down fighting and for coach Bobby Williamson the fight is not over until the return leg in Kampala in June.
By Swalley Kenyi in Pointe Noire, Congo Brazaville
Congo Brazaville 3 Uganda 1
A ten-man Uganda Cranes side went down fighting and for coach Bobby Williamson the fight is not over until the return leg in Kampala in June.
The Scot sounded a strong warning during the post-match press conference here that his boys would still over turn the 3-1 defeat in Pointe Noire.
A first minute goal by Francis Ondama disorganised the Cranes in this first round match played in front of a capacity crowd. Ondama’s shot from 40 yards got a deflection off defender Henry Kalungi before flying past Cranes goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
The Cranes however recovered with an equalizer through Mike Serumaga in the 24th minute. Serumaga tapped in after a build up from the midfield involving Tonny Mawejje before Godfrey Walusimbi laid a cross for him to score.
Congo dominated much of the first half with their strikers putting Uganda under pressure and forcing the Cranes’ defence into panic. Onyango was later substituted after pulling a muscle.
“I over stretched myself (saving one shot after another) and I had to come out to allow a fit colleague to step in. I didn’t want to cost the team,” said Onyango.
But not even substitute Abbey Dhaira could save a resultant penalty after team captain Andy Mwesigwa fouled in the box.
Nael Letiti scored from the spot on 77 minutes to give Congo a 2-1 lead. Masamba Massoulu then put it beyond reach in the 85th minute.
The situation got worse after Cameroonian referee Alioum Neant sent off Mawejje for a second bookable offence.
The introduction of strikers Emma Okwi and Brian Umony changed little if anything.
Sweden-based midfielder Martin Mutumba did not play.