NAMBOOLE – Impressive Brian Majwega scored twice to see Uganda past Tanzania to qualify for the Africa Nations Championship that will be held in South Africa early in 2014.
Uganda Cranes
Striker Frank Kalanda fired the hosts into the lead early but the visiting Tanzanian side leveled matters moments later to usher in a heated encounter at Namboole Stadium.
But Ugandan midfielder Majwega’s brace in the second half snuffed out any linger of hope for the visitors and at the same time ensuring that a precious nine-year unbeaten home record remains intact.
The result leaves the Taifa Stars with Lady Luck to blame for their misfortunes considering that the goalposts of luck inevitably had shifted to the Uganda Cranes’ end right from the first leg a fortnight ago when coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević’s men carried a one-goal advantage back home.
But matters were not done yet for Uganda ahead of Saturday’s crucial encounter. While the visitors flew in with an only single objective of nothing short of a win, the hosts knew any draw would float them through.
Even with that comfort, Micho’s home-based players started off on a high under skin-ripping temperatures, thanks to an unforgiving late afternoon sun.
They probed early and their opponents felt the grueling intensity of a high mountain-climb task when the punishment came in the seventh minute courtesy of a Kalanda lethal header.
From a corner kick, the Tanzanian defence was caught in slumber, giving the perfect opportunity for the fluid striker to scramble his way through and nod in past Juma Kaseja who immediately turned his fury on his defenders.
Despite the slope of the challenge having gotten steeper with that goal down, the Tanzanians never seemed to back down. No doubt it was with that sense of resilience and attack-mindedness that they pulled through and equaled the score ten minutes later.
Dangerman Mrisho Ngassa shook his marker off down the left wing, cut in a measured cross to Amri Kiemba who escaped the attention of the Cranes defence to lob the ball over a stranded Hamza Muwonge.
The equalizer did well to resurrect the confidence of coach Kim Poulsen’s men who investigated the defence of the hosts more than ever. Ngassa proved more lethal on the ball, causing panic attacks within the Cranes’ back line.
And it was during that time that the home fans were saved from brief moments of scare, hands nimbly clasping heads and initial noise that had gripped the stadium dying out, understandably so.
Half-time certainly came as a breather of relief for the hosts who had come close to conceding a second goal when Ngassa’s shot got blocked.
Whatever instructions went around back in the dressing rooms surely did change the dimension of the game.
Both sides came back stronger with more attacking intensity. But it was near déjà vu when Majwega made no mistake with the spot kick after a lurking ball had ricocheted off the woodwork and landed on Kelvini Yondoni’s arm.
It was even more misery for the Taifa Stars when the penalty taker tapped in a third for his side on the hour mark. At that point, the Tanzanians, however hard they pushed on, almost knew it was game over for them considering how clean the hosts are on home turf.
From then on, the Namboole crowd rediscovered its voice in fullness, a reaffirmation that the task was more than done.
Late on, Cranes’ Simon Okwi replaced Joseph Mpande who had had a quiet game upfront.
It was a brutal kill for Micho and his men but that only opens up the home-based side to the reality that there is an even harder task that awaits them in South Africa.
For now, it’s celebration for Uganda.
CHAN Championship
Second Leg at Namboole Stadium
Uganda 3 (Kalanda 7′, Majwega 48′, 60′) Tanzania 1 (Kiemba 17′)
By Kizza Joseph, The New Vision
