Uganda Cranes over came a hard fighting South Sudan team 1-0 during the TOTAL AFCON 2021 group B qualifier played at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Thursday.
Defender Halid Lwaliwa headed home Faruku Miya’s free-kick in the 85th minute of the game played under closed doors.
Lwaliwa was a substitute, replacing the injured Ronald Mukiibi Ddungu in the 68th minute after pulling a ham-string.
Miya had earlier hit the post with different attempts.
Uganda Cranes’ technical team made a couple of changes in the game.
First, Emmanuel Okwi was replaced by Allan Okello in the 58th minute before Lwaliwa’s forced change 10 minutes later.
Karim Watambala and Edrisa Lubega were also introduced for Khalid Aucho and Paul Derrick Nsibambi respectively.
Watambala earned his first senior debut, same like Bwomono.
Left back Joseph Ochaya got cautioned in the final stages of the game, a decision that automatically rules him out of the return leg on Monday, 16th November 2020.
‘I am happy for the victory. We really worked hard to break down their resilience which was anticipated because they are a hard nut to break. We look forward the return leg on Monday’ Head coach Johnathan McKinstry remarked after the game.
The win takes Uganda Cranes to 7 points from 3 matches ahead of Burkina Faso (4).
Burkina Faso takes on Malawi in the other match day three duel in Ouagadougou.
Meanwhile, Uganda Cranes will depart for Nairobi on Saturday, 14th November 2020.
Details of the entire program will be communicated in the due course.
Uganda Cranes XI:
Denis Onyango (18), Elvis Bwomono (06), Joseph Ochaya (02), Ronald Mukiibi (12), Timothy Denis Awany (03), Mike Azira (23), Khalid Aucho (08), Faruku Miya (17), William Kizito Luwagga (10), Derrick Nsibambi (11), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (07)
Substitutes: Jamal Salim (19), Charles Lukwago (01), Nicholas Wadada (14), Disan Galiwango, Patrick Mbowa (24), Halid Lwaliwa (15), Shafiq Kagimu (13), Karim Watambala (25), Allan Okello (20), Edrisa Lubega (22), Brian Ahebwa (16), Fahad Bayo (09)
South Sudan XI:
Ramadan John Mayik Diing (G.K – 1), Abdulkarim Yom Mutwakil -29, Peter Maker Manyang – 4, Rehan Angier Malong (14), Manyumom Achol (8), Jackson Morgan Odebe (16), Ivan Wani Adebo (7), David Sebit Omot (17), Tito Okello Odong (10), Makueth Wol Akeen Nguet (22), Stephen Pawaar Lony (25)
Subs: Godfrey Nyeko Okello (3), Abdalla Asad Musa (24), John Kuol Chol (15), Kenjok Wal Athiu (9), Dominic Abul Pretino (11), Joseph Kuch Nyuar Atak (12), Dominic Angelo Kornelio Aroma (6), Bak Majok Nyang (2), Majak Maling Mawith (23 – Goalkeeper), Denis Yongure Daluri (20), Aluck Akech Mabior (1).