Ugandan football champions, KCCA FC have Tuesday afternoon revived their chances of progressing onto the Quarter Finals of the CAF champions league after they beat Egyptian and eight time African champions, Al Ahly in a game played at the Mandela National Stadium.
The game started with high momentum as hosts KCCA FC won a free kick in the 7th minute through midfielder Timothy Awany, only to be taken a few inches off the post.
Outstanding shot stopper, Charles Lukwago denied the guests an early lead in the 10th minute, when he sprinted towards their forward, Marwan and prevented him from scoring.
Minutes after, KCCA mounted further pressure on the guests when young lad Allan Okello played a one-two style with striker Saddam Juma, before Al Ahly’s custodian Elshennawy saved Muhammed Shaban’s shot in the 21st minute.
KCCA’s goalie Charles Lukwago displayed a great play when he made a master penalty save which would have given the North Africans a lead in the 26th minute.
Lukwago, arguably the man of the match kept KCCA’s hopes of winning the game alive in the 37th minute when he saved Elsolia’s shot in the 37th minute, ending first half goalless.
At the start of the second half, coach Mike Mutebi replaced Jackson Nunda with Bukenya, an explicit sign that he wanted goals.
The Kasasiro boys mounted more pressure with several shots on goal, but striker Saddam Juma’s brush header broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute giving the Ugandans a lead.
Mike Mutebi’s side became more aggressive and confident after scoring the first goal and this was witnessed when new entrant on to the pitch, Derrick Nsibambi, headed the ball slightly wider from Al Ahly’s goal post in the 79th minute.
Just minutes after introducing Paul Mucureezi in place of Muhammad Shaban in the 80th minute, Nsibambi was brought down in the 18 yards box. This gave KCCA a penalty spot that would be shot into the net by team captain Timothy Awany in the 87th minute, ending the game 2 – 0 in favor of KCCA.
KCCA’s win today has revived its chances of going past the Group stages having lost their opener against Township Rollers of Botswana two weeks ago.
KCCA which is the first Ugandan club to play in the CAF champions group stages will be travelling to North Africa to play against Esperance on July 17 and thereafter host the Tunisians in a fortnight in Kampala in a return leg on July 27.
KCCA will in a return match host Rollers on August 17 before ending their group stage journey in Egypt against Al Ahly FC on August 28.
Pending the results from the the other group match between Esperance of Tunisia and Township Rollers, which will be played later today in Tunis, the Ugandans are now second in group A.
Group A standings
Township Rollers 3
KCCA FC 3
Esperance 1
Al Ahly 1