Uganda in tricky state after draw

By James Bakama and Usher Komugisha

Uganda 1 DR Congo 1

UGANDA’S dreams of a maiden qualification for a women’s continental tournament were complicated by a home draw on Saturday.

The Crested Cranes battled from a goal down to share the spoils with DR. Congo in the Africa Senior Championship qualifiers at Nakivubo.

Mjidah Nantanda’s side now has the unenviable task of facing Congo in Kinshasa’s 80,000 seater  Martyrs stadium on January 28.

That Uganda also has to get to terms with an unfarmiliar artificial turf, could also spell disaster. The triumphant team over the two legs will make it to Africa’s biggest women’s football competition.

The script could have easily been more horrifying for Uganda if Fatuma Luwedde hadn’t secured a priceless equalizer 19 minutes into the game.

Luwedde lived up to her status as one of the most experienced figures by calmly slotting in the ball. This was after goalkeeper Ngoya Mudindi fumbling with a Christine Nambirige shot.

Congo had however showed its intentions as early as the seventh minute with a Tondo Lugemba strike. 

She volleyed into an empty net courtesy of the hosts’ poor game reading. Goalkeeper Fatuma Matovu carelessly dashed out of her territory leaving the posts open.

Diakesse Nalundzi thereafter kept the Cranes on the ropes as she master minded several onslaughts.

But Nantanda was nevertheless impressed by the result. “I am happy that my strikers played like this although we did not win at home. Our players are young and skillful. They stood up to the more experienced Congo.”

Nantanda’s counterpart Gautier Muzangi, however, sent out an early warning ahead of the return leg.

“An away goal is a good result. Expect a torrid time in Kinshasa,” he said adding that they should have even done better at Nakivubo if it weren’t for an uneven ground. “This ground (Nakivubo) is not good at all,” he complained.