CECAFA 2019: Cranes Register a Win Against Gaddafi In Practice Match

Uganda Cranes continued with it’s preparation for the 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup with a 2-0 win against Jinja based Gaddafi FC at the Kyabazinga Stadium in Jinja on Saturday evening.

Second-half substitute Fahad Bayo opened up the score with a free header inside the area in the 57th minute, courtesy of a well-delivered cross from Ben Ocen.

Vipers SC midfielder Abdul Karim Watambala doubled the lead with seven minutes to time with yet another excellent header from Paul Willa’s Cross.

The hosts got an opportunity to pull back a consolation but the effort from Bakari Magumba’s spot-kick in the 90th minute was saved by goalkeeper Said Keni.

“It was another step along in terms of our preparations. This was another part of our training program. Gaddafi was really up for the game and used a lot of energy that put us on pressure. The players did well today and everyone got some minutes of play,” Uganda Cranes head coach Johnathan McKinstry said after the game

“It has helped learn a few things on our players and I was pleased with the performance though we need to work on some other things that didn’t go well and it’s all good in terms of continuing our preparations for CECAFA,” he added.

Cranes will continue with the preparation of the tournament with a training on Monday  December 2nd at the StarTimes Stadium Lugogo.

They are pooled in group A together with Burundi, Ethiopia, and Eritrea as they aim at winning the tournament for the first time since 2015.