Andrew Mwanguhya
2 December 2011
Amissi Cedric’s strike was enough to condemn Uganda to their first defeat in the ongoing Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup as they went down 1-0 to Burundi at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The result leaves Burundi top of Group B on seven points with Cranes second on six. This sets Bobby Williamson’s side against Group A’s second placed team as Burundi face Group C toppers.
The first day quarterfinal on Monday sees Burundi facing the second-placed team in Group C that includes Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia and Sudan. Malawi top with four points, Kenya follow on three, Sudan on two and Ethiopia on one.
The other quarterfinal will involve Group A winners vs Best loser 1. Zanzibar top best losers table with four points. The third quarterfinal will have Group C winners against the Best loser 2.
Uganda will take on the second-placed team in Group A in the last quarter final. Group A includes toppers Rwanda (six points), Tanzania (three), Zimbabwe (three) and Djibouti (zero).
This could set up a repeat of the 2009 Cecafa Cup final or last edition’s semifinal clash.
Uganda beat Rwanda in the final of the 2009 edition in Nairobi while they were ejected by Tanzania in the semifinals last year.
Then, Uganda will have to put up a better performance than yesterday’s. The Cranes put up one of the most disjointed displays in recent memory and they were duly punished.
Amissi received the ball from a short corner, curled it in off the underside to Robert Odongkara’s back and into the net for a 1-0 lead five minutes from half time.
It never changed as striker Emma Okwi squandered two decent scoring chances that could have swung the game in Cranes’ favour. Cranes have won the Cecafa Cup 11 times.
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