Chan first leg qualifier
Uganda 3-0 Rwanda
Uganda put one foot into the 2018 Chan finals with a commanding 3-0 first leg qualifying win over neighbours Rwanda at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Saturday evening.
Muzamir Mutyaba, twice, and Derrick Nsibambi scored Cranes goals as the interim coaching pair of Moses Basena and Fred Kajoba took charge of their first game since the departure of Micho Sredojevic.
The Cranes started on the front foot, going ahead in the 12th minute when Derrick was fouled by Aimable Nsabimana in the forbidden area.
Mutyaba stepped up to squeeze the ball past goalkeeper Marcel Nzarora from the spot for Uganda’s opener.
The playmaker, who thoroughly enjoyed his evening, soon doubled the Cranes’ lead midway the first half in grand style.
With space availed to him in the opposition half, Mutyaba played a quick one-two with Milton Karisa before toe-poking past the stranded Rwandan goalkeeper.
Nsibambi sealed victory for the Cranes with the game’s third goal and his second in successive games after scoring the opener in the 5-1 rout of South Sudan in the previous round.
The two teams meet in the second leg next Saturday in Kigali where the winner will qualify for next year’s Chan Championship in Kenya.
TEAM LINE-UPS:
UGANDA CRANES XI: Ismael Watenga (G.K), Nico Wakiro Wadada, Isaac Muleme, Paul Musamali, Savio Kabugo, Bernard Muwanga (45’ Tom Masiko), Milton Karisa, Moses Waiswa (80’ Muhammed Shaban), Derrick Nsibambi, Muzamiru Mutyaba (60’ Paul Mucureezi), Shafiq Kagimu
Subs Not Used: Benjamin Ochan (G.K), Rashid Toha, Deus Bukenya, Erisa Ssekisambu
Interim Coaches: Moses Basena and Fred Kajoba (Uganda)
RWANDA XI: Marcel Nzarora (G.K), Eric Iradukunda, Emmanuel Imanishimwe, Aimable Rucogoza, Aimable Nsabimana, Thierry Manzi, Yannick Mukunzi, Seif Olivier Niyonzima (69’ Kevin Muhire), Djihad Bizimana, Dominique Savio Nshuti, Barnabe Mubumbyi (52’ Abeddy Biramahire)
Subs Not Used: Yve Kimenyi (G.K), Soter Kayumba, Latif Bishira, Jean Marie Vianney Muvandimwe, Amran Nshimiyimana
Coach: Antoine Hey