CHAN 2018 Group B
Namibia 1-0 Uganda
Stade de Marrakech, Morocco
Namibia struck late to eliminate any hopes of Uganda progressing to the quarter finals of the 2018 CHAN championships in Morocco.
Striker Halleluya Nakundi grabbed the only goal of the game deep into added time as he fired a fierce shot past Ismail Watenga in the Uganda goal after holding off Cranes Bernard Muwanga.
Uganda will look back at the the match with a lot of positivity as they were clearly the best team in the night having dominated possession and created the clearest of chances throughout the game.
In the first half, Uganda started confidently dominating possession while playing from the back and got the first sight at goal in the eight minute when Saddam Juma headed wide Isaac Muleme’s cross.
A minute later, Allan Kyambadde failed to beat Zambian goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapuwa one-on-one after the custodian failed to deal with a routine cross and the SC Villa attacking midfielder fired stright at the goalie.
Namibia’s star striker Henrick Somaeb wasted their only clear cut opportunity of the first half as he chiped the ball over Cranes keeper Watenga but failed to find the target after running slow on goal.
Namibia started growing into the game and avoided the early mistakes they had made although they were still slagish in possession.
At the end of the first half, Uganda was clearly the most disappointed of the two sides after failing to convert their dominance into at least a single goal.
The start of the second half was less event full from the first to the 54th minute when Cranes striker Derrick Nsibambi failed to convert from six yards a brilliant cross from Milton Karisa and struck straight at Lloyd Kazapuwa in Namibia’s goal.
Nsibambi then missed two more chances in quick succession heading straight at the keeper following a Wadada cross in the 65th minute and missing the target with the keeper to beat a minute later.
Allan Kyambadde forced Lloyd Kazapuwa into another save as the SC Villa player fired a fierce drive from 20 yards which the keeper pushed away for a corner.
With time running out, Uganda pushed further up the pitch and defender Timothy Awanyi fouled Namibia’s Halleluya Nakundi and was sent off controversially by Egyptian referee Ibrahim Nour El din.
Replays showed that their was minimal contact between the players despite the fact that the Ugandan defender was the last man.
With just over a minute of additional time to play, Namibia who had all pushed forward got their reward when striker
Halleluya Nakundi brilliantly shoved off Cranes captain Bernard Muwanga before scoring his first of the tournament.
The result leaves Uganda on zero points level with Ivory Coast and Namibia move second in the group with six points, the same as Zambia who defeated Ivory Coast 2-0 in the earlier kick off.
Uganda has now been eliminated along with Ivory Coast and a win for either side in their last game can only guarantee either side third spot.
This is the fourth time in a row that Uganda has failed to make it last the groups in the CHAN tournament.
Cranes team that started against Namibia.
1. Ismail Watenga(Gk)
2. Nicholas Wadada
3. Isaac Muleme
4. Timothy Awanyi
5. Bernard Muwanga(c)
6. Tadeo Lwanga
7. Ibrahim Saddam Juma
8. Allan Kyambadde
9. Derrick Nsibambi
10. Muzamir Mutyaba
11. Milton Karisa
