CECAFA: Uganda beats Eritrea to storm semis
Dec 11, 2019
“We need to improve our performance if we are to win the title....
CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup
Results
Burundi 1 Djibouti 2
Eritrea 0 Uganda 2
Sunday
Uganda v Djibouti
Uganda matched into the semifinals of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup despite an awful display against Eritrea at Lugogo on Wednesday.
Despite winning 2-0 courtesy of Nicholas Kasozi and Mustafa Kizza's penalty in the 57th and 80th minute respectively, Uganda was not sharp as in their first two games against Burundi and Somalia.
Cranes head coach Jonathan Mckinstry made nine changes which partly made for Wednesday's pedestrian performance against an arguably weak Eritrea side.
"We need to improve our performance if we are to win the title. Our performance was poor today, "noted McKinstry.
Allan Okello who scored Uganda's two goals against Somalia and Bright Anukani, Fahad Bayo all who have so far been on the score sheet for the Cranes were among those left out against Eritrea.
Steven Mukwala who started in Bayo's position upfront lacked sharpness to negotiate past the Eritrean solid defence marshalled by Filmon Semere and Isayas Abreham.
Mukwala managed only two shots at goal after he was set up by Muzamir Mutyaba and Mustafa Kizza which were also off target for the 62 minutes he lasted on the pitch.
Eritrea got the better of Cranes defence more than twice but could not convert the open chances to the disappointment of their passionate fans.
"We had chances which squandered especially in the first half. Uganda regrouped in the second half and took theirs thus the loss," Eritrea Coach Alemseghed Efrem Haile said.
"Congratulations to Uganda they deserved victory after that second-half performances," noted Alemseghed.
Uganda will play Djibouti in their last Group A match on Sunday.
In the other match of the day, Djibouti shocked Burundi with a 2-1 victory.