Uganda Secure CHAN 2016 Play-Off Spot After Draw with Tanzania
Uganda’s national football team, the Cranes, have advanced to the next round of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Tanzania in Kampala on Saturday.
Despite heading into the second leg of the preliminary round with a comfortable 3-0 advantage from the first leg, Uganda faced a determined Tanzanian side who were eager to mount a comeback. The visitors made their intentions clear in the second half when striker John Bocco converted a penalty in the 59th minute, giving Tanzania a glimmer of hope.
With pressure mounting and just six minutes left on the clock, Uganda responded through substitute Kezironi Kizito. Having only entered the match minutes earlier, Kizito struck in the 84th minute to level the score and effectively seal Uganda’s qualification to the next round with a 4-1 aggregate victory.
The result means Uganda will now meet Sudan in the final play-off round, where a place in the 2016 CHAN finals will be at stake. The tournament, reserved exclusively for players featuring in their domestic leagues, offers an important platform for emerging African talent.
While the Cranes’ overall performance across the two legs was enough to see them through, Saturday’s match served as a reminder of the fine margins in knockout football. Uganda will now shift focus to preparing for what promises to be a challenging encounter with Sudan as they seek to book their place in the continental finals.
