A journey that started with high hopes ended miserably with Uganda Cranes losing 5-2 on Tuesday night to defending champions Morocco at the Total CHAN 2020 Finals in Cameroon.
The biggest chunk of the Ugandan team was making its debut appearance at the tournament set aside for the local based players on the African Continent. This was one of the contributors to the results but did not stop the players, technical team and FUFA to set targets for the tournament.
The fans back home believed that the moment was ripe for Uganda to get out of the group stages for the first time. The previous four attempts had seen Uganda labour to get results.
Ibrahim Orit first handed Uganda Cranes the early lead on in the first half only for his efforts to be cancelled at the stroke of half time with Morocco winning and converting a penalty.
Charles Lukwago made several saves in the game but the final result favored Morocco and Uganda missed the chance to progress.
The story after the break was not pleasant at all as Uganda Cranes conceded four more goals to dash any lingering hopes of qualification from the group stage.
Kagimu, Kyeyune and Anukani planning for the free kick which resulted into Uganda’s second goal
Saidi Kyeyune who scored a spectacular goal against Togo was at it again with a well worked out free-kick in the second half to reduce the deficit for the score to read 4-2 but Morocco hit back with another goal for the match to end 5-2. Ayoub El Kaabi, Soufiane Rahmi(2), Hamza El Houssaoui and Rahmi and substitute Abdelilah Hafidi netted for Morocco.
Morocco and Rwanda qualified from the group as Uganda finished bottom with one point.
Uganda cranes coach Johnathan McKinstry said that Ugandan players gained experience despite falling at the group stage of CAF African Nations Championship.
