KCCA knocked out of CAF Confederation Cup

2018-19 CAF CONFEDERATION CUP PLAYOFF ROUND

Sunday's return leg result

KCCA FC 2  AS Otoho 0
(AS Otoho win 3-2 on aggregate)

By Joseph Kizza

@joekizza

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KAMPALA - KCCA FC scored twice in the second half but were left frustrated by AS Otoho D'Oyo in a rain-hit second leg game as the Ugandan side exited the 2018-19 CAF Confederation Cup at the playoff stage.

After a goalless opening half, the hosts, needing to at least first score three goals to level the contest, found the breakthrough 20 minutes after the interval through Patrick Kaddu.

Allan Okello cut the deficit even further late on from the spot, but it was a little too late for KCCA to produce the required comeback.

Eventually, Congo Brazzaville side Otoho, 3-2 winners of the two-legged duel, progressed to the group stage of the competition. KCCA, on the other hand, will have to quickly switch their focus back to domestic affairs.


Tough mission

For KCCA, dealing with a three-goal deficit carried from the first leg was made even more difficult by the elements, as an afternoon downpour in Kampala lashed the players in a do-or-die tie for the hosts, with the wet surface providing a tricky foundation for an already Herculean task for Mike Mutebi's side.

Overturning such huge arrears needed early reaction, but KCCA, despite starting strongly under the dampening weather braved by a large group of home fans, failed to brighten their chances in a goalless opening half.

And they will have felt hard done by with Burundian referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana's decision to turn down their strong penalty claims when Allan Kyambadde was brought down in the box 10 minutes before the break.

Much earlier, Muzamiru Mutyaba had tested Mongondza Ngobo with a fierce strike which the visiting goalkeeper tipped over the bar for a corner.

But while the hosts needed to be adventurous and precise in front of the opposition's goal, they had to exercise caution in their own backyard in an assignment that Mutebi had said in the buildup would have to be negotiated the "hard way".

The tactician, sporting a suit and an ubiquitous presence on the sidelines of the StarTimes Stadium on Sunday, will not have fancied the idea that his defender Hassan Musana picked up a yellow card as early as two minutes into the game.

Centre-back Peter Magambo, returning to the squad after regaining full fitness, also entered Ndabihawenimana's book for a challenge.

Such indiscipline did not help matters for KCCA - who have lost only once in 13 continental home games under Mutebi - as they failed to find the back of the net in the first stanza.


A little too late for a comeback

Otoho, who are currently in fifth place in the Congo Premier League, had their chances too, and often drew home keeper Charles Lukwago into fine saves. At 0-0, any goal for Otoho would worsen matters for the hosts.

Willed on by a brave crowd, an under-the-cosh KCCA did manage to find the opener in the 65th minute, Kaddu's strike providing the much needed impetus for a difficult yet achievable comeback.

The home side needed to find another two goals to level matters, yet with the second goal coming at the death from a penalty, there was hardly any time left to complete the mission. The two minutes of stoppage time did KCCA no favours as they got knocked out of the competition.

Meanwhile, another Ugandan side, Vipers SC, will face Tunisian side CS Sfaxien in Sfax today at 8pm Ugandan time for a similar match.

The Venoms need at least a draw of any score other than 0-0 to advance via the away-goals rule after the two sides played out a goalless draw in Kitende last week.

Also related to this story

CAF Confederation Cup: Otoho 3 KCCA 0

CAF Confederation Cup: Vipers 0 Sfaxien 0