Uganda Cranes in semifinals
UGANDA Cranes had to grit their teeth to make the CECAFA Al Moudi Senior Challenge Cup semifinals after post-match spot kicks. Striker Geoffrey Sserunkuuma converted the decisive spot kick to give Uganda a 4-2 win over a plucky Malawi.
By Douglas Mazune in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Quarterfinal results,/b>
Uganda 0 (4) Malawi0 (2)
Burundi 0 Sudan 1
Tomorrow semifinals
Zambia v Rwanda 3pm
Sudan v Uganda 5pm
UGANDA Cranes had to grit their teeth to make the CECAFA Al Moudi Senior Challenge Cup semifinals after post-match spot kicks.
Striker Geoffrey Sserunkuuma converted the decisive spot kick to give Uganda a 4-2 win over a plucky Malawi.
Malawi’s Moses Chavula shot the first penalty above the bar and Cranes captain Hannington Kalyesubula went on to block Heston Muntale’s penalty to give Uganda 2-0 lead. Simeon Masaba and Dan Wagaluka converted the first two spot kicks.
Johnson Bagoole missed his but Richard Malinga and Sserunkuuma scored theirs to give Uganda a 4-2 win.
The preceding 120 minutes which saw Uganda and Malawi put up a defence-minded display, while occasionally attacking, ended in a goal-less draw.
Sserunkuuma, Hassan Mubiru, Wagaluka, Vincent Kayizzi and Alimansi Kadogo missed Uganda’s share of scoring chances in regular time. Malawi’s Muntale and Joel Chipufya on several occasions failed to find the target for their side too.
Cranes coach Laszlo Csaba was a relieved man.
“I am happy we are in the semifinals but Malawi made life difficult for us because we didn’t take our chances. If the players had died a little more for the country we wouldn’t have gone all the way to extra time. We have to stop this mentality of taking it easy,†Csaba commented.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia declined to have a replay with Zambia as it had been decided by the CECAFA emergence committee.
The hosts had lost 1-0 in the quarterfinals to Zambia.
Consequently Zambia will play Rwanda in the first semifinal on Friday.
An emergency committee that CECAFA president Dennis Obua attended had ruled the match be replayed, arguing that Rwandan referee Issa Kagabi blew the final whistle prematurely.
But CECAFA secretary Nicholas Musonye had rubbished the decision to have a replay.
“That was decided by old idiots. I was not in that meeting and I wasn’t aware of it. I am very disappointed that Obua was party to that. As far as I am concerned, I expect Zambia in the stadium again on Friday for the semifinal. If Ethiopia wants to play against Zambia again, that is a friendly. I have told them that we must obey the rules of football but they have refused. If they insist I will call off the tournament,†Musonye fumed.
Quarterfinal results,/b>
Uganda 0 (4) Malawi0 (2)
Burundi 0 Sudan 1
Tomorrow semifinals
Zambia v Rwanda 3pm
Sudan v Uganda 5pm
UGANDA Cranes had to grit their teeth to make the CECAFA Al Moudi Senior Challenge Cup semifinals after post-match spot kicks.
Striker Geoffrey Sserunkuuma converted the decisive spot kick to give Uganda a 4-2 win over a plucky Malawi.
Malawi’s Moses Chavula shot the first penalty above the bar and Cranes captain Hannington Kalyesubula went on to block Heston Muntale’s penalty to give Uganda 2-0 lead. Simeon Masaba and Dan Wagaluka converted the first two spot kicks.
Johnson Bagoole missed his but Richard Malinga and Sserunkuuma scored theirs to give Uganda a 4-2 win.
The preceding 120 minutes which saw Uganda and Malawi put up a defence-minded display, while occasionally attacking, ended in a goal-less draw.
Sserunkuuma, Hassan Mubiru, Wagaluka, Vincent Kayizzi and Alimansi Kadogo missed Uganda’s share of scoring chances in regular time. Malawi’s Muntale and Joel Chipufya on several occasions failed to find the target for their side too.
Cranes coach Laszlo Csaba was a relieved man.
“I am happy we are in the semifinals but Malawi made life difficult for us because we didn’t take our chances. If the players had died a little more for the country we wouldn’t have gone all the way to extra time. We have to stop this mentality of taking it easy,†Csaba commented.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia declined to have a replay with Zambia as it had been decided by the CECAFA emergence committee.
The hosts had lost 1-0 in the quarterfinals to Zambia.
Consequently Zambia will play Rwanda in the first semifinal on Friday.
An emergency committee that CECAFA president Dennis Obua attended had ruled the match be replayed, arguing that Rwandan referee Issa Kagabi blew the final whistle prematurely.
But CECAFA secretary Nicholas Musonye had rubbished the decision to have a replay.
“That was decided by old idiots. I was not in that meeting and I wasn’t aware of it. I am very disappointed that Obua was party to that. As far as I am concerned, I expect Zambia in the stadium again on Friday for the semifinal. If Ethiopia wants to play against Zambia again, that is a friendly. I have told them that we must obey the rules of football but they have refused. If they insist I will call off the tournament,†Musonye fumed.