CAF Champions league first round
KCCA FC 1-0 St. George
(Agg 1-0)
StarTimes stadium, Lugogo
KCCA FC became the first Ugandan club to make it into the CAF champions league group stages after a hard fought 1-0 win at home to St. George of Ethiopia.
After drawing 0-0 in the first leg played in Addis Ababa, KCCA knew that any sort of win would see them make the group stages of Africa’s most prestigious club competition and did exactly that.
After a dull first half in which both sides tried to play as calm and composed as possible, the Kasasiro Boys broke the deadlock on 47 minutes when Shaban Muhammad rose highest to meet a Mustapha Kizza pin point cross and nodded home past Robert Odongokara in the St. George goal.
St. George’s best chance came a few minutes to half time but Mustafa Kiiza rose high to clear a goal bound ball off the line, Aschalew Tamene’s resulting shot, who had an empty net infront of him, went over the bar.
The Ethiopians made a late surge but could not cub out a clear opening as KCCA stood firm and defended like it was their last day and saw out the slender win.
Shaban Muhammad (second right) fighting for the ball against St. George defenders.
What the coaches said after the game.
St George Coach, Vaz Pinto:
“We were a better than KCCA FC on the day but it just didn’t happen for us.
“We created the better opportunities but we didnt score and KCCA FC managed to utilize their chance.
KCCA FC Coach Mike Mutebi:
“I am so happy that the team managed to go through.
“Its a good achievement for KCCA FC to join the group stages.
“Its good that we are going to rub shoulders with the big boys across the continent and I have achieved this with a crop of young players.
The victory means that KCCA qualify to the group stages of the CAF champions league after two qualification rounds.
In the preliminary round, the Lugogo based side got past Madagascarn out fit CNaPS on away goals after drawing 2-2 on aggregate.
