Togo puts an end to Cranes' 10 year home unbeaten record

Published on: 12 October 2014
Togo puts an end to Cranes' 10 year home unbeaten record
Emmanuel Adebayor

Uganda Cranes 10 year unbeaten home record finally came to an end on Saturday October 10 thanks to Togo’s 1-0 victory at Namboole in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

Right full back Donou Kokou scored the only goal of the game to silence the capacity crowds that came to support The Cranes.

The game started on a slow note and it wasn’t until the 8th minute that the game registered its first real shot thanks to Togo skipper Emmanuel Adebayor who shot wide after winning possession down the left.

In the 12th minute, The Cranes got their first real opportunity when Moses Oloya’s cross found an unmarked Mawejje in the six yard box but the Valur FC midfielder miscued.

Seven minutes later, a good interplay between Moses Oloya and Walusimbi saw the latter’s cross meet Luwagga Kizito who placed wide with goalie Djehani N’Guissan Yao at his mercy.

The first corner of the game came in the 24th minute when Alexys Romao defended Oloya’s ball but the visitors defended well.

In the 28th minute, Togo gotten a free kick on the left after Mwesigwa’s foul on Serge Gakpe but Onyango was at hand to parry the ball away.

However, the ball fell to Ouro Akoriko who crossed back into the area for Adebayor but Andrew Mwesigwa cleared after Onyango failed to land his hand on the ball.

Two minutes later, Donou Kokou put the Sparrow Hawks into the lead when his low shot after beating Onyango into the low corner tearing the net.

Massa should have leveled matters for Uganda but he headed wide from Walusimbi’s cross.

The goal prompted Micho to make his first substitute withdrawing defensive midfielder Aucho Khalid for striker Emmanuel Okwi but the Togolese held on to take a half time lead.

Micho made another substitute immediately after recess bringing on another striker Brian Umony for attacking midfielder Moses Oloya.

However, it was Togo that threatened to get on the score sheet again when Jonathan Ayite shot on goal but Onyango saved.

Micho made another substitute in the 58th minute introducing Brian Majwega for Luwagga Kizito but The Cranes still created less with Mawejje’s 81stminute shot the only time they came closest to getting on the score sheet.

The final whistle from Kenyan referee Davies Omweno meant the Sparrow Hawks didn’t only end Uganda’s record but also kept their unbeaten record against Uganda in five meetings.

Togo’s last visit to Uganda before this was in 2001 when the visitors thrashed The Cranes 3-0 at Nakivubo.

After the loss, Uganda is now second in group E on four points same as leaders Ghana who have scored more goals albeit for hours as we await the fixture between Guinea and Ghana in Casablanca which kicks off at 10pm (Ugandan Time).

Uganda visits Togo in Lome on Wednesday looking for nothing but revenge to keep hopes of playing at the AFCON finals for the first time since 1978 alive.

Uganda Cranes line up:

Denis Onyango (GK), Denis Iguma, Godfrey Walusimbi, Andrew Mwesigwa (c), Savio Kabugo, Aucho Khalid (Moses Oloya 40'), Geoffrey 'Baba' Kizito, Moses Oloya (Brian Umony 46'), Tonny Mawejje, William Luwagga Kizito (Brian Majwega 58'), Geoffrey Massa.

Unused substitutes:

Robert Odongkara (GK), Dan Sserunkuma, Yunus Sentamu and Isaac Isinde

By Kawowo Sports:

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