2019 AFCON Qualifiers-Group L
Uganda 1-0 Cape Verde
Mandela National Stadium, Namboole
Saturday, 17-11-2018
NAMBOOLE – The Uganda Cranes defeated Cape Verde 1-0 at the Mandela National Stadium to seal a spot at next year’s AFCON tournament in Cameroon.
Patrick Kaddu who was set to be replaced scored the winner with 13 minutes to play and sent the East African nation into joy.
How the action unfolded:
The first 10 minutes of the game were cagy with neither side willing to commit numbers forward.
From there, the game started picking up life and on 15 minutes, Denis Iguma threaded a through ball for Farooq Miya who turned sharply in the area but shot straight at Theirry Graca in Cape Verde’s goal and the ball went out for a corner. The resultant kick was half cleared by the visitors and Iguma tried his luck from distance but shot straight at Graca.
Two minutes later, Aucho lashed onto Patrick Kaddu’s cut back but his effort was charged down by the visitors’ defence.
On 24 minutes, Kaddu was brought down in the area by Carlos Rodriguez but referee-Youssef Essrayri waved play on.
With 9 minutes to play in the first half, Jorge Semedo turned the Cranes defence inside out but shot tamely at Denis Onyango who collected easily.
At the other end, Kaddu lashed onto a long ball down the right channel, sent in a low cross but was not connected with properly by Isaac Muleme whose effort went directly at Graca.
The first yellow card of the game was shown to Hassan Wasswa for bundling Semedo over near Uganda’s penalty area. The resultant free-kick was dealt with easily by Uganda.
Five minutes later, Jjuuko was also booked for a reckless challenge on Garry Mendes around the center circle.
With neither side able to find the net in the first half, Esserayri sent them back into the changing rooms deadlocked at 0-0 for the mandetory rest.
At the start of the second half, Cape Verde made the first substitution of the game, taking off Ryan Mendes and replacing him with Heldon Ramos.
Three minutes into the last 45, Helder Tavares was booked for a challenge on Khalid Aucho as frasturation started setting in for the Blue Sharks.
Two minutes later Garry Mendes made a decent run down the right and sent in a delicious low cross which was met by Nuno Rocha but the Craikiova midfielder could not direct his effort towards goal and it went out for a goal kick.
The visitors made their second substitution on the hour mark, sending on Dijon Captain Julio Taveras in place of Helder Tevares.
Uganda went on the offensive and missed several opportunities as Miya and Kaddu could not find the back of the net in quick succession.
With 24 minutes to play, Allan Kyambadde came on for Muleme in a move that was meant to try and add more energy into the Ugandan attack.
Cape Verde had a glorious opportunity to take the lead on 70 minutes when Ramos ran through on goal and his first time shot beat Onyango who had ran out of his goal to try and block the attacker, but Jjuuku cleared the ball out for a throw in before it could cross the line.
The visitors were made to pay for Ramos’ miss as with 13 minutes to play, Kaddu scored the all important goal for Uganda. The KCCA FC striker rose highest to node in Walusimbi’s cross at the near post and in the process, send the crowd at Namboole into jubilation. Before scoring the goal, the former Maroons striker was about to be substituted with Edria Lubega getting ready to come on.
Two minutes later, the Cranes should have doubled their lead but Kaddu could only shoot at Fernando Valera after Graca had fumbled Miya’s tame effort moments earlier.
Sensing they may be headed for a loss, Cape Verde made their final substitution, sending on striker Nuno Joia in place of Rocha.
Despite the all-out attacking approach, the Blue Sharks could not find the all elusive equalizer as Uganda held on to win the game 1-0.
The victory take Uganda to 13 points after 5 games and with second placed Tanzania on 5 points, the Cranes now seal qualification to AFCON 2019 in Cameroon.
Uganda will play Tanzania in their last game of the qualifiers early next year.
The team that started against Cape Verde:
Denis Onyango, Nicholas Wadada, Godfrey Walusimbi, Murushid Jjuuko, Hassan Wasswa, Denis Iguma, Moses Waiswa, Khalid Aucho, Farooq Miya, Isaac Muleme, Patrick Kaduu.
