Uganda Cranes Keep World Cup Qualification Hopes Alive with Victory Over Amavubi Stars

National football team Uganda Cranes have kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup alive after defeating Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende on Sunday.

Cranes had Uganda Charles Lukwago, Denis Iguma, Aziz Kayondo, Isaac Muleme, Enock Walusimbi, Timothy Awany, Taddeo Lwanga, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Moses Waiswa, Fahad Bayo, and Steven Mukwala  for their starting XI.

The Amavubi Stars’ starting XI had Emery Mvuyekure, Ange Mutsinze, Salomon Nirisakire, Kevin Muhire, Denis Rukundo, Emmanuel Imanishimwe, Rafael York, Yannick Mukunzi, Djabel Manishimwe, Jacques Tuyisenge, and Meddie Kagere.

Fahad Bayo did it again with a 22^nd minute game that gave Cranes three points.

An Israeli side FC Ashdod center forward, Bayo converted a winding corner kick delivered by Isaac muleme into a goal.

Earlier on Thursday, Bayo’s goal had won Uganda three points in Kigali, Rwanda.

In the Sunday match, Uganda missed a number of chances. For example, even before Bayo scored, Muleme’s free kick could have been converted into a goal had it accurately reached Simba Sports Club midfielder Tadeo Lwanga.

Also missing the targets by a whisker were Vipers’ Byaruhanga and Super Sport United’s Waiswa.

Vipers’ and Super Sport United midfielders Bobosi Byaruhanga and Moses Waiswa respectively had different long distance efforts miss target narrowly.

Amavubi Stars were also no pushovers. Their players Kevin Muhiire, Jacques Tuyisenge, Meddie Kagere, Rafael York and Yannick Mukunzi did all they could but were not lucky.

Uganda is now eight points, two behind group E leaders Mali.