On 81 minutes, and down the left, Kizito Luwagga found his way into the Nigerian goal area, with his trademark of cutting inside with his left foot, the Portuguese based player picked Miya Farouk.
The Vipers midfielder controlled under immense pressure and managed to shoot at goal, his effort was deflected, before being saved by Vincent Enyeama, but all that couldn’t stop the ball from finding the back of the net.
Cranes’ endless knocks on Nigeria’s defense had finally paid off; in a game that Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was celebrating his 100th cap.
The shot stopper pulled off spectacular saves in a game where Uganda’s Godfrey Massa and company misused chances.
Enyeama wasn’t the busier one though; his counterpart at the other end Denis Onyango was, the Mamelodi Sundowns custodian rarely got breathing space.
Onyango who was playing alongside debutants Alex Kakuba and Joseph Nsubuga who were patrolling the left and right flanks respectively stood tall.
Shafik Bikiki and Richard kasanga were the central defensive paring, the former also turning out for the Cranes for the first time.
Actually a last minute inclusion in the 18-man squad of Tekkwo Derrick saw the Kira Young captain also win himself a maiden cap.
Tekkwo and seasoned Cranes’s international Aucho Khalid made sure the back stayed in shape, provided cover for kakuba and Nsubuga every time they fullbacks overlapped.
Just like it has been at his Gor Mahia club, Godfrey Walusimbi has been played upfront, Micho applied the same tactic which worked as Kakuba and Walusimbi complimented each other every well.
Nigeria came with their status as four-time African champions, at their Akwa Ibom stadium in Uyo state, on the other hand, as Cranes coach Mulutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic was finding it hard to field a strong side for the International friendly.
After players like Iguma Denis, Mike Azira, Brian Umony and Isaac Isinde failed to make the trip to Nigeria, the Serbian was left with little options. But that didn’t stop the inexperienced young Cranes side to come out on top.
Cranes Starting XI Denis Onyango, Joseph Nsubuga, Alex Kakuba, Shafik Bakaki, Richard Kasaga, Derrick Tekwwo, Khalid Aucho, Godfrey Walusimbi ,Luwagga Kizito, Farouk Miya and Geoffrey Massa. Subs: Ismail Watenga, Keziron Kizito, Chrizestom Ntambi and Robert Ssentongo, Ibrahim Kiyemba.
