Uganda’s U20 side thought they would go to Rwanda pick an easy win and wait for their opponents in Kampala to finish the job in the 2017 CAF U-20 Qualifiers.
It was a totally different story as the Kefa Kisala coached side were shocked by a defensively disciplined Rwandan side that was also willing to take the game to their visitors.
As Uganda’s casual attack struggled against Rwanda’s defense, the latter’s skipper Savio Nshuti was causing all sorts of damage on the left wing.
It was the APR man’s well timed cross that Blaise Itangishaka’s headed home to give the host the lead.
That goal was one of the many chances Rwanda created. They weren’t converted because Uganda did a good job defensively but it was a case of the hosts not carrying enough scoring boots.
After Itangishaka’s goal, Uganda woke up and inform striker, Edrissa Lubega used his pace and power to go past Ewing Ndagijimana before shooting past Jimmy Nzeyurwanda.
Wingers, Nicholas Kagaba and Yasin Mugume also struggled with their final ball deliveries and their decision making left a lot to be desired.
It’s an U20 side, and many will argue it’s supposed to be a developmental side, but if you have players like Kagaba and Mugume who have at least played top flight league football for more than a season one has every reason to expect better from them.
The midfield partnership of Daniel Sabena and Julius Poloto had the latter carry a lot of weight defensively and and offensively.
Poloto always found himself playing far away from lead striker Lubega. Emma Olinga’s idea of the long ball for the Proline marksman to chase would have worked if at all he did it with purpose.
Captain and central defender Harid Lwaliwa is suffering from the same disease most of the young upcoming defenders and goalkeepers are suffering from, communication. He rarely talked with his players or commanded his backline, something that exposed Uganda on a number of occasions, his goalkeeper Saidi Keni didn’t also offer much.
No wonder he was sent off midway the second half, Saidi rushed out of his goal area and with no idea where he was before he held the ball at a time when Kisala was planning to introduce Alfred Leku and Martin Kiiza, Mugume had to be sacrificed for James Aheebwa in goal.
The campaign is not yet over, with that precious away goal, Kisala and his backroom team has three weeks to rectify all that that went wrong ahead of the return leg on April 16.
