Uganda too good for Lesotho, Nations Cup beckons

Lesotho ?? 0 Uganda ?? 2

Tanzania 2 Cape Verde 0

Maseru, Lesotho | THE INDEPENDENT  | Two Faruk Miya goals in Maseru have put Uganda Cranes on the door-steps of a second Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The two-nil away result Tuesday evening means only heavy consecutive defeats by Cape Verde in Kampala and Tanzania in Dar, can stop Uganda Cranes from making it to Cameroon.

Miya, the man who ensured Uganda returned to the Nations Cup after nearly four decades the last time round, scored a brace as Cranes out-muscled Lesotho Likuena (The Crocodiles) 2-0 at the Setsoto stadium in Maseru Stadium .

Miya opened the scoring as early as the 5th minute with a thunderous shot after good inter-play with Allan Kateregga and Emmanuel Okwi off the right flank.

The Croatian based forward playing alongside KCCA’s Patrick Henry Kaddu added the second in the 36th minute with a superbly taken free-kick after a foul on Okwi on the left flank.

Half time ended with Uganda carrying a 2-0 goal cushion and it necessitated gallant defending from the visitors as Lesotho surged forward for at least a goal back.

Goalkeeper Dennis Onyango and the entire defence had to be alert throughout the second half with explicit defending.

In the second half, the technical team headed by Sebastien Desabre rung a couple of changes which witnessed left winger Allan Kateregga paving way for Egyptian based Isaac Muleme.

Two goal hero Miya who had been booked was replaced by Moses Waiswa and industrious Patrick Henry Kaddu was rested for Edirsa Lubega. It was KCCA FC striker Patrick Kaddu’s first start on the National senior team

Uganda is now on the brink of are within a point of qualification for the 2019 AFCON finals with the last two matches against Cape Verde (home) and Tanzania (away).

Congratulations to Uganda Cranes for the 2-0 victory over Lesotho’s Crocodiles. I also congratulate Farouk Miya for the brace. I am confident Uganda will qualify for AFCON 2019 in Cameroon.

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 16, 2018

A large fraction of Ugandans who traveled by the chartered flight from Entebbe and those living in Lesotho cheered the Cranes from start to finish.

Just last Saturday, Uganda Cranes beat Lesotho 3-0 at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

A chartered flight facilitated by the Government of Uganda enabled the team reach Maseru on Sunday well in time of the Tuesday game.

Meanwhile Tanzania overcame Cape Verde to ascend to 5 points, Cape Verde remains on 4 and Lesotho just two points off four matches.

STARTING XI: Denis Onyango (GK, Capt), Nico Wakiro Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, Murushid Juuko, Dennis Iguma, Emmanuel Okwi, Khalid Aucho, Patrick Kaddu, Faruku Miya and Allan Kateregga

Substitutes: Jamal Salim (G.K), Charles Lukwago (G.K), Isaac Isinde, Isaac Muleme, Timothy Denis Awanyi, Joseph Benson Ochaya, Ibrahim Sadam Juma, Tadeo Lwanga, Moses Waisswa, Edrisa Lubega, Milton Karisa, Allan Kyambadde, Derrick Nsibambi

Standings

Uganda 4 3 1 0 6 0 10

Tanzania 4 1 2 1 3 4 5

C. Verde 4 1 1 2 4 4 4

Lesotho 4 0 2 2 2 7 2

Note: group winners and runners-up qualify for finals except for Group B, where 2019 Cup of Nations hosts Cameroon and the highest placed of the other three teams reach the finals

SOURCE: FUFA MEDIA