AFCON: Uganda beats Ghana 1-0

 By Joseph Kizza

Africa Nations Cup qualifier

Uganda 1  (S. Kabugo 9')  Ghana 0   

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Uganda stunned Ghana at Namboole Stadium with a crucial win that revived an Africa Nations Cup campaign that had started to crumble.

The Black Stars came into Saturday’s clash without their talismanic captain Asamoah Gyan featuring on the squad, but they still exhibited a dominant foreign-based starting lineup which pushed their East African hosts on the very edge of a pulsating encounter.

But their dominance suffered a dent early into the game when the Cranes took the lead through youngster Savio Kabugo’s header from a corner kick taken by Mike Sserumagga.

Gyan, who was ruled out of this game because of an injury, watched his side boss possession for long periods, and win most of the aerial challenges through the two halves on a slippery turf, but his colleagues failed to make it count in front of goal.

A late penalty appeal by the hosts was waved away by the Sudanese referee El Fadil Mohammed Hussein after Cranes striker Geoffrey Massa appeared to have been brought down in the box, but that did not affect the ultimate score as the final whistle went seconds later, elevating Uganda into second place of Group E.

Uganda remained in second place of the group even after the Togo v Guinea game, which ended with Guinea beating Togo 4-1, a result that meant that Uganda and Guinea are tied on points (seven) but Uganda's better goal difference gives them the edge. Ghana remained top of the group as Togo slipped to bottom.

Uganda's fate still lies in her hands, and victory over Guinea on Wednesday will guarantee Coach Micho Sredojevic’s side a place in the 2015 Cup finals, regardless of the outcome between Ghana and Togo.

Victory over Uganda would have sailed Ghana into the finals in Equatorial Guinea – the new hosts after Morocco was disqualified – but such ambitions were severely hurt when they suffered defeat in Kampala.

The Black Stars, who last won the continental tournament in 1982 but have in recent years established themselves as African representatives in the World Cup, play Togo in their last group game while Uganda have a visit to Guinea on Wednesday.

Such a historic victory over an African powerhouse will stamp away any lingering doubts that had started to float over the Cranes' credentials in the continent's biggest football tournament, especially after suffering back-to-back defeats against Togo in recent weeks.

And the hosts will be more than determined to take on Guinea, whom they managed to beat 2-0 in Kampala a few weeks ago. If Micho's boys carry along such amount of belief to Guinea as they did against the Black Stars, then the local fans' 36-year wait for qualification for the Nations Cup finals will finally come to an end.

1978 is a long way back, and Micho must have sat his team down and played them the clip of that epic final (Uganda v Ghana) to help them understand in depth the significance of Saturday's game.

But whichever tactics the tactician employed behind the scenes, it sent the Cranes oozing confidence right from the get-go with the backing of a vibrant home voice.

The visitors, much superior in physique, started strong as well, with Andre Ayew the driving force of a weakened side missing three of their most influential players; Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah and Jordan Ayew.

But the constant presence of winger Christian Atsu presented problems for the Cranes' back, who had to work extremely hard to stop the lethal attacker. Once, he floated a free-kick dangerously into the box but the nifty effort was picked up mid-air by Cranes keeper Dennis Onyango.

The dangerman almost put his side on the scoresheet when he rounded Brian Majwega up on the right flank, but his effort was tamer than it should have been.

Just as the two sides were starting to gel into the game, in came a corner kick in the 9th minute of the game, the floated ball finding 20-year-old Kabugo at the end of the lower post, and the SC Victoria University defender heading home, sending the crowd into wild raptures.

His goal celebration was a mimic of that of the fastest man on earth, Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt, who loves punctuating his victories on the track with a signature lightning bolt celebration towards the crowd.

Yunus Ssentamu almost beat his marker on the left wing, and for the instinctive player that he is, the winger should have placed the Cranes two better in the lead had his run been successful.

He was later brought off for Daniel Sserunkuma, who plays for Kenyan side Gor Mahia, and the strong winger gave his minders plenty of hard time. He could have scored from a slide-pass from Tonny Mawejje mid-second half, but his resulting slash missed the ball, and a light tap only sent the spherical leather rolling over the line, much to the crowd's awe.

Second half saw the hosts play predominantly defensive, and allowed the Ghanaians to come up to them, with nervy consequences at that. Atsu continued to inflict more danger onto Captain Andrew Mwesigwa-led defensive wall, and referee Hussein was more than once forced to dish out a yellow card and blow for free-kicks in a game that turned physical.

One victim of a booking was Uganda's defender Isaac Isinde, who continued to place himself in hazardous situations that threatened to earn him a send-off.

Despite second-half pressure from the Black Stars, which climaxed into rare late pressure from the Cranes as well, which saw the home players enjoy moments of successive passes to the delight of the home fans, coupled with  late penalty calls by the Ugandans when Massa tumbled into the box, it was the Cranes that took the day.