Uganda Cranes soar with win over Nigeria
NIGERIA who? thousands of fans asked after Egyptian referee Essam Abdel Fattah blew the final whistle to declare Uganda winners over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in an African Cup of Nations qualifier at Namboole on Saturday. The Uganda Cranes had two goals to the Nigerians’ one.<br>
By Norman Katende
NIGERIA who? thousands of fans asked after Egyptian referee Essam Abdel Fattah blew the final whistle to declare Uganda winners over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in an African Cup of Nations qualifier at Namboole on Saturday. The Uganda Cranes had two goals to the Nigerians’ one.
“Tutawapiga na roho (We shall beat them with our hearts),†musician and Pearl of Africa (PAM) Artiste of the Year Bobi Wine had promised the Ugandan fans after performing his famous hit Kiwani before the match started.
The fans were flamboyantly dressed in the national colours, had painted faces and waved the Uganda flag.
Bobi Wine had indeed read the minds of Ugandans, who had previously seen their team insulted by the Nigeria press as “ball jugglers who knew nothing†and who would be silenced by the Super Eagles.
The win by a 10-man Cranes was a perfect gift for the fans, who thronged the pitch after the final whistle to celebrate as crestfallen Nigeria fans looked on.
David Obua and captain Ibrahim Sekagya scored from the spot after the ‘live wire’, Geoffrey Massa, had been brought down in the box twice, the second goal coming minutes before anchorman Noah ‘Babadi’ Kasule was sent off for a second bookable offence. John Utaka had opened the scoring with a precise finish.
The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, downcast after Nigeria took a first-half lead, performed his own victory jig after the match, as other honourables—Amanya Mushega, Namirembe Bitamazire, Peter Lokeris and Amama Mbabazi—embraced one another. Former ministers Mike Mukula and Jim Muhwezi were also present, putting aside their court troubles to cheer the Cranes on.
Former FUFA president Denis Obua, who sat next to his successor Lawrence Mulindwa, was all smiles. “It is a win for Uganda,†he shouted as he hugged the FUFA officials around him.
Mulindwa was even more excited. “I told you we would beat them. We are now back in the race,†he said as he watched thousands of fans fill the pitch in ecstatic song and dance. For the time being, he did not mind whether Uganda would be fined for the desecration of the pitch.
Some fans, who had watched the Nigerians display a shirt reading “Rest in Peace Uganda Cranesâ€, after the win revenged with a banner that read: “Nigeria, Welcome to Hell.â€
Chaos descended after the match as fans poured onto the pitch, rolling on the ground to express their happiness.
One naughty group lifted the MTN board against whose backdrop national coach Laszlo Csaba was delivering a post-match interview.
The win was one to savour, and despite the ruthlessness of the anti-riot police, fans still ran around the pitch with such abandon.
“We will be in Ghana. The ball is now in our court,†said FUFA marketing official Dennis Mbidde.
With an inevitably heavy traffic jam at Namboole and Kireka, fans with their shirts peeled off, declined to board the vehicles, preferring to walk back to town and collectively soak in the excitement of a memorable win.
Those who did not watch the game in the stadium, mounted a ‘guard of honour’ for the celebrating fans at Kireka, Banda and Nakawa, screaming, waving and singing the Cranes’ praises.
The celebrations were not limited to Kampala. Residents in many towns watched the match live on satellite channel SuperSport, WBS, Nation TV and UBC-TV and took to the streets to make merry. “Tugenda gumalamu mu bbaala (We are going to drink all the beers in the bars)!†they announced.
Arua district was said to experience a traffic jam for the first time in several years as people took to the streets to celebrate while others radically decided to sleep by the roadside.
On a sad note, however, the celebrations turned sour when a joyous woman caught up in dance was knocked dead on Kitante Road in Kampala. Such a sad climax to a great result!
NIGERIA who? thousands of fans asked after Egyptian referee Essam Abdel Fattah blew the final whistle to declare Uganda winners over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in an African Cup of Nations qualifier at Namboole on Saturday. The Uganda Cranes had two goals to the Nigerians’ one.
“Tutawapiga na roho (We shall beat them with our hearts),†musician and Pearl of Africa (PAM) Artiste of the Year Bobi Wine had promised the Ugandan fans after performing his famous hit Kiwani before the match started.
The fans were flamboyantly dressed in the national colours, had painted faces and waved the Uganda flag.
Bobi Wine had indeed read the minds of Ugandans, who had previously seen their team insulted by the Nigeria press as “ball jugglers who knew nothing†and who would be silenced by the Super Eagles.
The win by a 10-man Cranes was a perfect gift for the fans, who thronged the pitch after the final whistle to celebrate as crestfallen Nigeria fans looked on.
David Obua and captain Ibrahim Sekagya scored from the spot after the ‘live wire’, Geoffrey Massa, had been brought down in the box twice, the second goal coming minutes before anchorman Noah ‘Babadi’ Kasule was sent off for a second bookable offence. John Utaka had opened the scoring with a precise finish.
The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, downcast after Nigeria took a first-half lead, performed his own victory jig after the match, as other honourables—Amanya Mushega, Namirembe Bitamazire, Peter Lokeris and Amama Mbabazi—embraced one another. Former ministers Mike Mukula and Jim Muhwezi were also present, putting aside their court troubles to cheer the Cranes on.
Former FUFA president Denis Obua, who sat next to his successor Lawrence Mulindwa, was all smiles. “It is a win for Uganda,†he shouted as he hugged the FUFA officials around him.
Mulindwa was even more excited. “I told you we would beat them. We are now back in the race,†he said as he watched thousands of fans fill the pitch in ecstatic song and dance. For the time being, he did not mind whether Uganda would be fined for the desecration of the pitch.
Some fans, who had watched the Nigerians display a shirt reading “Rest in Peace Uganda Cranesâ€, after the win revenged with a banner that read: “Nigeria, Welcome to Hell.â€
Chaos descended after the match as fans poured onto the pitch, rolling on the ground to express their happiness.
One naughty group lifted the MTN board against whose backdrop national coach Laszlo Csaba was delivering a post-match interview.
The win was one to savour, and despite the ruthlessness of the anti-riot police, fans still ran around the pitch with such abandon.
“We will be in Ghana. The ball is now in our court,†said FUFA marketing official Dennis Mbidde.
With an inevitably heavy traffic jam at Namboole and Kireka, fans with their shirts peeled off, declined to board the vehicles, preferring to walk back to town and collectively soak in the excitement of a memorable win.
Those who did not watch the game in the stadium, mounted a ‘guard of honour’ for the celebrating fans at Kireka, Banda and Nakawa, screaming, waving and singing the Cranes’ praises.
The celebrations were not limited to Kampala. Residents in many towns watched the match live on satellite channel SuperSport, WBS, Nation TV and UBC-TV and took to the streets to make merry. “Tugenda gumalamu mu bbaala (We are going to drink all the beers in the bars)!†they announced.
Arua district was said to experience a traffic jam for the first time in several years as people took to the streets to celebrate while others radically decided to sleep by the roadside.
On a sad note, however, the celebrations turned sour when a joyous woman caught up in dance was knocked dead on Kitante Road in Kampala. Such a sad climax to a great result!