Tanzania 0-1 Uganda (13th July Result)
Return leg: 27th July 2013
Uganda Cranes will approach the July 27th return home leg fixture of the African Championships of Nations (CHAN) against Tanzania’s Taifa stars with a goal cushion following a 1-0 away result at the Benjamin Mkapa stadium in a match played under very hot conditions.
Midfielder cum defender Dennis Iguma scored the lone strike that came only two minutes after play resumed from the half time recess. The Cranes played like wounded lions owing to the plus 32 degrees sizzling hot Dar es Salaam sun.
Coach Micho’s boys got a 14th minute set back as striker Tonny Odur pulled off a ham string and was replaced by Frank Kalanda, who narrowly missed breaking the deadlock in the 39th minute.
Coach Kim Poulsen’s Tanzania had earlier started the better side with early raids to the Cranes’ goal, though none were successful – thanks to the alertness of the visitor’s back line and goalie Hamuza Muwonge, who foiled many early attacks from the deadly duo of Mrisho Ngassa and John Rafael Bocco.
Uganda steadily recovered with mid fielders Joseph Mpande and team skipper, Hassan Wasswa dictating play in the middle of the pack and by the half time whistle, all signs were evident the Cranes had a mission to accomplish in Dar es salaam- to seek for an away win.
The fans in the Mkapa National Stadium had something special to celebrate about at half time as Hasheen Thabeet, a Tanzanian professional basketball player who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA entertained the crowd.
It was not surprising therefore that by the 47th minute, Dennis Iguma, one of the two Ugandan players in the squad that featured in the June 2014 world cup qualifiers against Liberia and Angola scored a beautiful goal to send the partisan cheering crowd in the stands wild with celebrations.
The tie was watched by about 20,000 fans in the 60,000 seater stadium. Tanzania Football Federation and CECAFA President Leodegar Tenga and the Uganda FA President Lawrence Mulindwa also watched the game handled by Burundian referees.
The Cranes, who return on to the pearl of African homeland on Sunday are set to host the return leg in a fortnight at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala. The aggregate winner over the two legs will qualify to the CHAN main championships next year in South Africa.
How the Uganda Cranes lined up against Taifa Stars:
18.Hamza Muwonge,17. Nicolas Wadada, 5. Kasaga Richard, 14.Kabugo Savio,16.Waswa Hassan,, 6.Iguma Dennis, 8.Said Kyeyune,10.Mpande, 9. Edema Patrick , 13. Odur Tonny, 11Majwega Brian
Subs:
1.Kimera Ali, 15.Kawoya Fahad, 3.Mukisa Yusuf, 2.Muganga Ronald, 7.Kalanda Frank, 4.Ntege Ivan,12. Kisalita Ayub
Tanzania:
Juma Kaseja, Nyonyi Erasto Edward, Kapombe Shamari Salum, Ambrose Aggrey Morris, Patrick Kevin Yondan, Damayo Frank Raymond, Ramadhan Amri Kiemba, Salum Salum Abubaker, Bocco John Rapheal, Mwitula Mwinyi Kazimoto, Ngasa Mrisho Alfani
