Uganda thrash Burundi to advance to 2020 CHAN finals

2020 CHAN QUALIFICATION

Live reporting by Joseph Kizza

@joekizza

Photography by Richard Sanya

@sanyarichard1

 
(Scroll down the page for earlier updates)

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6.00pm |  IT'S A WRAP!

That's it folks. Well done Uganda, hard luck Burundi.

 

 

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90(+3) min |  UGANDA THROUGH TO 2020 CHAN FINALS

 
Full time: Uganda 3 Burundi 0 (Uganda win 6-0 on aggregate)

The Uganda Cranes have progressed to the 2020 African Nations Championship for a third successive time after beating Burundi 6-0 on aggregate.

Dominant display at Lugogo!

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90 min |  THREE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME

Uganda 3 Burundi 0

Should we wait for another goal? Three minutes of added time is what is flashed on the board.

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89 min |  Strong start, strong finish

Uganda 3 Burundi 0

The Cranes are seeing out this tie strongly against a below-par Burundian side. Total dominance.

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 84 min |  GOAL! - Okello joins the party

 

Uganda 3 Burundi 0

It's now an embarassment of riches for Uganda. Allan Okello makes it three for the Cranes after goalkeeper  Onesime Rukundo's blunder.

Uganda leading 6-0 on aggregate.

Referee, please put an end to the Swallows' misery already. But the home fans can't get enough of this.

 
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75 min |  When Sekajugo scored

Uganda 2 Burundi 0

Moments after Viane Sekajugo scored the second goal . . .

 

 
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75 min |  Uganda already in Cameroon

Uganda 2 Burundi 0

This contest is done and dusted. Burundi are staring into an abyss. It's game over for them.

Unless they hit five without Uganda responding.

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 73 min |  GOAL! - Sekajugo (Uganda)

 
Uganda 2 Burundi 0

He wanted it - and he gets it. Viane Sekajugo is on the score sheet after fantastic buildup play from the Cranes.

Make that advantage Uganda 5-0 on aggregate!

Fair to say this is a contest well beyond the reach of the Swallows!

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70 min |  Right into the mix

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Substitute Viane Sekajugo knows how to gel into action right away. He hits the ground running, and gives a go at the goal, but his effort will not trouble keeper Rukundo.

He wants to go on the score sheet, yes?

Meanwhile, Burundi make another change. Olivier Bayizere is on and off is Landry Ndikumana.

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67 min |  SUBSTITUTION - Uganda

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Second change for Uganda. Viane Sekajugo is on, and off comes Mike Mutyaba.

Time is running up for Burundi.

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63 min |  GREAT SAVE! - Lukwago (Uganda)

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Can the Swallows respond? Yes they can. They come close to finding the breakthrough, drawing Lukwago into a fine save.

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60 min |  Cranes 30 minutes away from qualification

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

The hosts - Uganda - have 30 minutes to hold on to their comfortable lead to progress to the finals.

The visitors - Burundi - have as much time to respond.

Can they?

 
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55 min |  SUBSTITUTION - Uganda

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Abdullah Mubiru also makes an early change. He brings off Shafiq Kagimu Kuchi and slaps on Saidi Kyeyune.

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53 min |  SUBSTITUTION - Burundi

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

The visitors make reforms. Cedric Mavugo is off, and on trots Benjamin Gasongo.

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50 min |  CLOSE! - Burundi

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

The Swallows have started the second half brighter. Charles Lukwago is the first goalkeeper to come under test.

If Burundi are to get something out of this tie, they need to produce something right away. To their credit, they have.

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45 min |  SECOND HALF UNDER WAY

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

We are back in action at Lugogo.

What does 45 minutes have in store for us?

 
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4.55pm |  HALF TIME - Bayo's goal the difference

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

The hosts are in total command of the two-legged tie. Leading 1-0 at half time through Fahad Bayo's early goal, it means Abdullah Mubiru's side are leading 4-0 on aggregate as it stands.

Anything can happen in football, yes. But it would be astronomically difficult to think that the Cranes can let this huge advantage slip through their fingers - especially on the evidence of the opening half proceedings.

 
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45 min |  HALF TIME - UGANDA LEADING

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Time's up for the first half. The players walk off the pitch for a break.

Burundi will have a lot of pep talking to do. Can they claw their way back into this tie that is fast-running away from their grasp?

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45 min |  Two minutes of added time

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

The normal 45 minutes of playing time are exhausted. Somali referee Hassan Hagi will allow two minutes of stoppage time.

Can the Swallows salvage something from this half?

 
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40 min |  CLOSE! - Kagimu (Uganda)

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Adventurous vision from Shafiq Kagimu Kuchi, but his overambitious shot drifts wide of the mark.

Burundi coming under sustained pressure here.

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37 min |  A second goal on the way?

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

We are approaching the 40th-minute mark.

You can sense another goal is knocking hard on the door. Do you?

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35 min |  Deft. Nifty. But off target

 
Uganda 1 Burundi 0

I had just mentioned this kid Allan Okello. He  has been industrious in the Burundian half, and once again, the KCCA man slaloms his way into the opposition half, leaving his minder for dead, twisting and turning on the ball, before unleasing an effort that won't trouble keeper Rukundo.

The fans love what the young man has just done. Cranes could be 3-0 ahead by now.

 
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30 min |  Okello on song?

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Allan Okello. Will he score today?

You and I know the youngster is armed with all the arsenal needed to bang in the goals.  Burundian goalkeeper Onesime Rukundo should keep a close eye on the Ugandan forward.

We are on the half-hour mark of this game.

 
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25 min |  Cameroon, here we come!

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

The 2020 Africa Nations Championship finals will be hosted by Cameroon. As stands, Uganda are on course to making it a successive qualification.

Coach Abdullah Mubiru's boys are bossing possession, with Burundi offering latent threat. Charles Lukwago is yet to be sternly tested in between the posts.

The crowds are effervescent.

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22 min |  Cranes soaring, Swallows yet to lift off

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

We are half-way into the opening half and no second goal yet.

Uganda are still bossing proceedings here. Right on course to progress.

 
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16 min |  CLOSE! - Bayo (Uganda)

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Oh. My. God. !!!!!

What did you just do, young man?

For a marksman of his calibre, Fahad Bayo should have buried that after rounding the keeper from a sweet Allan Okello pass.

 
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15 min |  GREAT SAVE! - Lukwago (Uganda)

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

Lugogo is packed. The home fans are enjoying a perfect start for their side. But they almost see the Swallows draw level on the day, but goalkeeper Charles Lukwago saves brilliantly.

We have a game on our hands, ladies and gentlemen.

I should remind you that Uganda are leading 4-0 on aggregate. Burundi need to react. Quick!

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11 min |  Bayo replicating his club form

Uganda 1 Burundi 0

This man, Fahad Bayo, is on form.

 
He currently leads the score chart for KCCA FC with six goals in the Uganda Premier League ahead of Mike Mutyaba, who last week scored a hattrick against Onduparaka FC.

Uganda are in command of this tie.

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07 min |  GOAL! -  Fahad Bayo (Uganda)

And the hosts are off to a flying start, drawing first blood against Burundi through on-form Fahad Bayo.

As it stands, Uganda are leading 4-0 on aggregate.

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4:00pm |  KICK OFF!

We are under way at the StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo.

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3:58pm |  They are out

Uganda v Burundi at 4pm

Right then, the teams are out. Kickoff minutes away . . .

 

Burundi's bench is like so . . .

 
While Uganda's looks like this . . .

 
Can the Swallows turn their misfortunes into fortunes?

 
The Cranes are soaring above the clouds.

 
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3:55pm |  Fans are in full voice

Uganda v Burundi at 4pm

The visitors have some representation in the stands . . .

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3:46pm |  Fans are in full voice

Uganda v Burundi at 4pm

There is no shortage of fans - and colour - at Lugogo. We are drawing closer to kick-off.

 

 

 

 
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3:35pm |  Burundi need massive turnaround

Uganda v Burundi at 4pm

The Swallows flew into the country on Friday. They have a huge deficit to reduce, after falling 3-0 at home in the first leg back in Bujumbura.

 
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3:25pm |  Who is starting today?

Uganda v Burundi at 4pm

 

Here is Uganda's starting XI:

Charles Lukwago (GK), Willa Paul, Mustapha Kizza, Halid Lwaliwa (Capitain), John Revita, Yusuf Ssozi, Nicholas Kasozi, Allan Okello, Fahad Bayo, Mike Mutyaba, Shafiq Kagimu

The substitutes are:

James Alitho, Vianney Sekajjugo, Musitafa Mujuzi, Daniel Serunkuma, Allan Kayiwa, Saidi Kyeyune, Bright Anukani

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3:18pm |  WATCH: Inspecting the pitch

Uganda v Burundi at 4pm

Today's game will be being played on the artificial turf of StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo. The Cranes have inspected the pitch.

Video: @UgandaCranes inspecting the matchday venue @StarTimesUganda stadium pic.twitter.com/JTwwdjcEJF

— FUFA (@OfficialFUFA) October 19, 2019

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3:10pm |  PREVIEW: Uganda v Burundi

 
By Fred Kaweesi:

Despite having the 3-0 first leg lead, coach Abdullah Mubiru says his team will not play a defence-minded game when they take on Burundi in the return leg of the CHAN 2020 Qualifiers today.

Cranes were wasteful in the first leg last month in Bujumbura but Mubiru says that those lapses have been rectified in time for today's match at Lugogo.

"We are going to possess the ball, use it smartly and try to be effi cient in the final third. We are not going to defend. We missed a lot of scoring chances in the first leg and this is something we have worked upon," Mubiru said Friday.

Strikers Fahad Bayo and Mike Mutyaba are the men expected to spearhead the Cranes attack.

Bayo currently leads the score chart for KCCA with six goals in the Uganda Premier League ahead of Mutyaba, who last week scored a hattrick against Onduparaka.

Read full preview here


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3:00pm |  What are the skies telling us?

Uganda v Burundi at 4pm

We have seen rainy days in recent weeks. Today is not one of those days - yet.  I say 'yet' because a quick glance up into the sky indicates there is a 50/50 chance of rain today.

Not the kind of weather you would want on match day.

But then, rain or shine, we have a game before us this evening.