Sunday 12 August
Uganda 0-1 Ethiopia
Chamazi Stadium
Results Group B (Sunday match)
South Sudan 2-0 Djibout
Results (Saturday matches)
Rwanda 3-1 Sudan
Burundi 1-2 Tanzania
Uganda’s CECAFA U-17 Zonal AFCON Qualification campaign started on a bad note as they fell 0-1 to Ethiopia on Sunday at Chamazi Stadium, Azam Sports Complex in Tanzania.
Ethiopia took the lead through Mintesnot Wakjira in the 13th minute in a well attended match.
Peter Onen’s side got an opportunity to level matters in the 17 minutes later but the penalty attempt Ibrahim Ekellot wasn’t successful as he was denied by Ethiopia’s goalkeeper Alazar Malko
Uganda made a substitution which saw Asaba Ivan come in for Iddi Abdulwahid 8 minutes after resumption of the game in the second half. This improved the side as several attempts were made.
Uganda Captain Kizito Mugweri Gavin was booked in 54th minute as the intensity of the game increased each passing minute.
Defender John Rogers came in for Mwaka Polycap in the 63rd to reinforce the defence while Alou John took over Yiga Najib’s place but all efforts were denied by Ethiopia’s backline.
‘It is always hard to approach the first match in such a tournament but I am so optimistic that we shall succeed in our upcoming matches and more conscience is called for to avoid such losses’ said Onen.
Three players Elvis Ngondwe, goalkeeper George Oluka and defender Joseph Kafumbe missed the match after medical tests (Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) failed to show they fall in the age group. FUFA wrote to the organisers for clarification on the matter as all players underwent the same test in Kampala before travelling to Tanzania.
Uganda is in Group B alongside Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan and Kenya. The top two teams from each group proceed to the semifinals.
MAIN PHOTO: Uganda’s Asaba Ivan takes charge of the ball during their clash againts Ethiopia.
Credit: FUFA
