Uganda 1-0 Ghana: Savio Kabugo's header the difference as Cranes revive Cup of Nations dream

Uganda's Savio Kabugo (top) celebrates after scoring the only goal in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Ghana at the Namboole Stadium in Kampala on November 15, 2014. PHOTO | ISMAIL KEZAALA |

What you need to know:

  • The central defender arrived in time to connect Mike Sserumaga’s searching corner after a run that underlined the hard work he has put in during training.
  • That ninth minute header ensured a crucial 1-0 victory over the fancied Ghanaians in the penultimate 2015 Nations Cup qualifier at Namboole Saturday evening.
  • The Cranes are now on seven points, one behind Ghana. Togo, who are on six, and Guinea – two points less, was a late kick off.
  • The gun posturing celebrations that followed from Kabugo only emphasised the importance of the goal.

KAMPALA

Savio Kabugo definitely took Emmanuel Adebayor’s advice. His committed run from his half under coach Micho Sredojevic’s frantic urging on the touchline was quite a tale.

The central defender arrived in time to connect Mike Sserumaga’s searching corner after a run that underlined the hard work he has put in during training.

Perhaps he had also taken on Adebayor’s advice of continuing the hard work after the two defeats to the West Africans.

That ninth minute header ensured a crucial 1-0 victory over the fancied Ghanaians in the penultimate 2015 Nations Cup qualifier at Namboole Saturday evening.

It may not be a collector’s item as he sneaked in on the blindside but will remain in the young man’s memory for years to come.

It was the first goal for the Sports Club Victory University (SCVU) defender in five Nations Cup qualifying games; his senior debut coming against the same opposition in the 1-1 first leg stalemate in Kumasi.

Uganda will now travel to Casablanca, Morocco to face Guinea on Wednesday knowing victory will end the 37 painful years of absence from the Afcon finals.

LATE KICK-OFF

The Cranes are now on seven points, one behind Ghana. Togo, who are on six, and Guinea – two points less, was a late kick off.

Under the watch of close to 30,000 spectators, Ghana had the earliest chance after Uganda conceded a corner and Christian Atsu delivered it immaculately. But Majeed Waris could only hold his head in frustration after missing the ball.

Uganda’s chance the other end instead drew deafening noise, the Cranes winning a corner thanks to Geoffrey Massa’s pressure on a Ghanaian defender.

The resultant corner was the moment everyone hoped for. Sserumaga, on his return to the fold after two years in the cold, drilled it past everyone in the Ghanaian box for Kabugo, in his early 20s, to nod home.

The gun posturing celebrations that followed from Kabugo only emphasised the importance of the goal.

A loose fan was not to be left out, sprinting across the pitch and past Ghanaian goalkeeper Razak Braimah in mad ecstasy.

Ghana needed something. Waris latched onto a pass down the left, beating skipper Andy Mwesigwa. The defender applied a rather poor strategy, bringing Waris down to pick his yellow card.

SSERUNKUMA ON

Striker Yunus Ssentamu’s ankle, which has troubled him all week, soon gave way allowing a first half forced substitution.

Dan Sserunkuma replaced him. The Gor Mahia striker soon threaded a delicious pass to Sserumaga but John Boye intercepted.

The second half was an equally open affair, Tonny Mawejje releasing Sserunkuma on the left but Gor Mahia man lost his footing.

Ghana stand-in skipper Andre Ayew was kept quiet before being substituted late on, but even when he created openings, Atsu and Waris were disappointing.

Substitute David Accam could have rescued a point for the Black Stars but Dennis Onyango saved brilliantly from the Ghanaian’s half volley.