The Uganda Cranes qualified for their sixth consecutive Africa Nations Championship finals following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.
Moses Waiswa, Rogers Mato and Richard Basangwa’s goals were enough to quash any talk of a Tanzania upset in the second leg at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Saturday.
With the Cranes carrying a 1-0 lead from the first leg played in Dar-es-Salaam last week, Uganda faced a threat of the unknown regards the expectations from the performance of the Tanzanians, especially under new head coach Honor Janza.
Akin to the first leg, it was a relatively slow start to the game, but it was the visitors who threatened first through Daniel Lyanga in the 10th minute.
However, Uganda found the breakthrough six minutes later, Moses Waiswa converting from the spot following a clumsy foul on Mato inside the area.
Waiswa then turned provider four minutes into the second half as his free kick was glanced beyond goalkeeper Aishi Manula by Richard Basangwa who had been introduced minutes earlier.
Abdul Suleiman was then harshly denied by the upright as Tanzania came close to scoring their first goal in the tie. Captain Milton Karisa buried any hope of a potential comeback with a header from Mato’s cross.
The challenge for the Cranes now who have reached the finals six-time – twice under Milutin ‘Micho’ Sreodjevic’ is to try and progress past the group stages at CHAN, with all their previous five qualifications ending at the first round.
How they lined up
Uganda: Nafian Alionzi (GK), Garvin Kizito Mugweri, John Revita, Derrick Ndahiro, Livingstone Mulondo, Siraje Ssentamu, Marvin Joseph Youngman, Moses Waiswa, Rogers Mato, Martin Kizza, Milton Karisa (c)
Substitutions: Mathias Muwanga, James Begisa, Ibrahim Orit, Kenneth Ssemakula, Saidi Kyeyune, Travis Mutyaba, Richard Basangwa
Tanzania: Aishi Manula, Mohamed Hussein, Dickson Job, Bakari Mwamnyento, Jonas Mkude, Salum Abubaker, Farid Mussa, Feissal Salum, George Mpole, Denis Kibu
Substitutions: Abdutwaleeb Mshery, Pascal Msindo, Kennedy Juma, Mzamiru Yassin, Tepsi Evance, Daniel Lyanga, Anuary Jabir.
