KITENDE – The Uganda Cranes registered their second victory of the AFCON 2022 Qualifying campaign on Thursday edging past South Sudan 1-0 at Kitende.
It was a frustrating game for the home team for 85 minutes until substitute Halid Lwaliwa headed home Faruku Miya’s free kick to score the only goal of the game.
Victory sees Uganda move onto seven points atop Group B having drawn 0-0 away to Burkina Faso and defeated Malawi 2-0 in their opening two game.
The Cranes will next take on South Sudan in Kenya on Monday.
Here is how the Uganda Cranes rated on Thursday afternoon.
Denis Onyango 6.0: A spectator for most of the contest but reliable whenever needed. He made himself big to ensure Makueth Wol shot wide, twice while through on goal. He was also vocal, commanding the outfield players, trying to push them on whenever their heads looked to have dropped.
Elvis Bwomono 5.5: Making his debut, Bwomono looked like a lost sheep for huge spells. Conceded some unnecessary free kicks especially in the first half.
Joseph Ochaya 6.0: Had a good game down the left and he was the player fouled in the build up to Lwaliwa’s winner.
Timothy Awanyi 6.0: Not tested to the fullest but he looked calm and composed all afternoon. Made a desperate last-ditch challenge, forcing Wol to shoot wide while through on goal.
Ronald Mukiibi 6.0: Several long-balls and two shots from a distance as he tried to make something happen for the Cranes. Was later substituted due to injury, paving way for eventual match-winner Lwaliwa.
Khalid Aucho5.0: Uncharacteristically lost possession consistently in the middle and i was not surprised to see him taken off as the Cranes went in search of a goal.
Mike Azira 7.0: With Aucho struggling, it was Azira who consistently clamed things down in midfield with his composed passing and organisation.
Kizito Luwagga 7.5: Luwagga lost possession consistently but throughout the game, he looked like the player who would unlock the South Sudan defence. Saw two shots go wide from good positions.
Derrick Nsibambi 4.5: Spent most of the game on the right side of attack and he did not make much of an impact. The header-wide from Ochaya’s cross, in the firsts half, summed up a bad day at office for the former KCCA FC striker.
Farouk Miya 6.0: Not the Miya that Cranes’ fans have fallen in love with but he tried to make things happen. After hitting the post mid way through the second half, he assisted Lwaliwa’s winning goal off a well-weighted free kick.
Emmanuel Okwi 5.0: Arguably his worst performance in a Cranes shit in the last few years. Okwi failed to make any impact upfront.
Substitutes
Halid Lwaliwa 7.0: Replaced Mukiibi and went on to score the winning goal.
Allan Okello 6.0: Replaced Okwi early in the second half and saw a curling shot parried by the goalkeeper just a few minutes after coming on. Looked lively and a danger to the Bright Stars throughout.
Karim Watambala 5.0: Rarely got onto the ball but the few times he did, he looked lively.
Edrisa Lubega N.a: Was not impactful after replacing Nsibambi.