Esperance Edges 10-Man KCCA FC to Shrink Their Qualification Chances

Two time African club Champions, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, have Saturday afternoon beaten KCCA FC 1-0 in their fourth group A game of this year’s CAF Champions league played at the Mandela National Stadium.

Game which registered a fair turnup of fans, started on a high note with both sides struggling to get an early lead.

Team captain, Timothy Awany was forced to make a timely tackle against Bilel Mejiri who had only remained with keeper to beat only six minutes into the game. Young star Allan Okello tried his luck in the 14th minute when he took a brush shot, only to go widely away from the goal post.

With more pressure mounting on both sides, Saad Beguir of the visitors and shot stopper Charles Lukwago were booked in their attempt to score and saving conceding a goal respectively.

Trouble for KCCA FC started when substitute Haithem Jouni slotted the ball behind the net of hosts to give visitors a lead after beating goalkeeper Charles Lukwago in a one-on-one contest before ending the first half.

Having dominated the first half, Mike Mutebi’s boys came back for second half with the same attacking strategy, thus making several shots on to goal.

Saddam Juma would later in the 51st minute be seen playing a one to one with young striker Allan Okello, who failed to convert another golden opportunity, to give KCCA FC a consolation goal.

Shot stopper Charles Lukwago continued to prove his worth when he made a thunderous save from Esperance’s number 9 in the 58th minute. Two minutes later, Mustafah Kizza took a free kick which met danger man Allan Okello, only to take it over the bar.

Lukwago, was in the 88th minute shown a red card having been earlier booked, ending the game 1 – 0 in favour of the visitors.

The ‘Kasasiro boys’ played this match without striker Muhammad Shaban, who is on trials with South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and play maker Jackson Nunda who is battling thigh injury.

Speaking to journalists after the match, KCCA FC coach Mike Mutebi heaped a lot of praise to Esperance saying the displayed beautiful football.

“Esperance were very effective and in the end it was a good advertisement for African football and for KCCA FC as an emerging force. My players whom I thought were offensive-minded did not show up, Mutyaba and Sadam Juma but we saw when Bukenya came in ,things changed,” Mike Mutebi stressed.

He however emphasised that their target is still to win the rest of the matches ,even though their chances of sailing into the quarter finals have dwindled.

This is KCCA’s first home loss since 2014. They last conceded 2 – 1 to Zambia’s Nkana Red Devils at the Mandela National Stadium.

KCCA will in a return match host Botswana’s Township Rollers on August 17 in Kampala before ending their group stage journey in Egypt against record eight African giants, Al Ahly FC on August 28.

KCCA FC are already assured of a group qualification fee of USD 555,000 (Shs 2bn) and will get more depending on how they perform in the group.