New CAF hope at Lugogo
May 03, 2009
KCC FC can still reap from the Africa Confederation Cup following their agonising exit from the CAF Champions League in Omdurman, Sudan, on Saturday.
By Fred Kaweesi
CAF Champions League
El Merriekh 1 KCC FC 1
(KCC eliminated on 2-1 aggregate)
Al Ahly 2 Kano Pillars 2
(Al Ahly eliminated on 4-3 away goals rule)
Confederation Cup cash
Club Federation
Winner $625,000 $35,000
R/up $432,000 $30,000
Grp 2nd $239,000 $25,000
Grp 3rd $239,000 $20,000
Grp 4th $150,000 $15,000
KCC FC can still reap from the Africa Confederation Cup following their agonising exit from the CAF Champions League in Omdurman, Sudan, on Saturday.
Uganda’s continental representatives KCC, and CAF Champions League defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt were both sent spinning out of the lucrative competition after crafting 1-1 and 2-2 stalemates in their respective fixtures.
Nigerian striker Endurance Idahor, who scored the winner in the first leg in Kampala, yet again helped El Merriekh with the opener into the second-half against KCC, who had been reduced to ten men following the controversial dismissal of left-back Sam Ssenoga.
KCC performed well although on one occasion coach George Nsimbe's side needed the intervention of team custodian Benjamin Ochan to keep them in the game.
From one of their few occasional second-half counter-attacks, KCC finally found the breakthrough, with Brian Umony heading home on 76 minutes to generate an anxious finale. The Ugandans could have qualified had Anthony Bongole converted a well-worked goal-bound opportunity in the final stages of the game.
KCC will now feature in the Confederation Cup, the subsidiary tournament for the Champions League competition.
The eight teams knocked out at the third round are entered into the cup to play against the final eight teams in that competition. After the second round, the last eight teams are split into two groups of four. The winner and runner-up in these groups play a semi-final for the chance of contesting the final.
Should they progress to the group stages, KCC will be assured of earning a minimum sh323m.
“It has been a learning experience for us and that should take us far in the Confederation Cup event and we will hopefully be more prepared this time,†Nsimbe stated at the end of the game in Sudan.
CAF Champions League
El Merriekh 1 KCC FC 1
(KCC eliminated on 2-1 aggregate)
Al Ahly 2 Kano Pillars 2
(Al Ahly eliminated on 4-3 away goals rule)
Confederation Cup cash
Club Federation
Winner $625,000 $35,000
R/up $432,000 $30,000
Grp 2nd $239,000 $25,000
Grp 3rd $239,000 $20,000
Grp 4th $150,000 $15,000
KCC FC can still reap from the Africa Confederation Cup following their agonising exit from the CAF Champions League in Omdurman, Sudan, on Saturday.
Uganda’s continental representatives KCC, and CAF Champions League defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt were both sent spinning out of the lucrative competition after crafting 1-1 and 2-2 stalemates in their respective fixtures.
Nigerian striker Endurance Idahor, who scored the winner in the first leg in Kampala, yet again helped El Merriekh with the opener into the second-half against KCC, who had been reduced to ten men following the controversial dismissal of left-back Sam Ssenoga.
KCC performed well although on one occasion coach George Nsimbe's side needed the intervention of team custodian Benjamin Ochan to keep them in the game.
From one of their few occasional second-half counter-attacks, KCC finally found the breakthrough, with Brian Umony heading home on 76 minutes to generate an anxious finale. The Ugandans could have qualified had Anthony Bongole converted a well-worked goal-bound opportunity in the final stages of the game.
KCC will now feature in the Confederation Cup, the subsidiary tournament for the Champions League competition.
The eight teams knocked out at the third round are entered into the cup to play against the final eight teams in that competition. After the second round, the last eight teams are split into two groups of four. The winner and runner-up in these groups play a semi-final for the chance of contesting the final.
Should they progress to the group stages, KCC will be assured of earning a minimum sh323m.
“It has been a learning experience for us and that should take us far in the Confederation Cup event and we will hopefully be more prepared this time,†Nsimbe stated at the end of the game in Sudan.