VIDEO: Massa masterclass sends Cranes top
Massa (C) is congratulated by Cranes skipper Andy Mwesigwa (L) an Tonny Mawejje after scoring one of his two goals last night. Photo by Dominic Bukenya.
What you need to know:
Uganda and Ghana, who edged Togo 3-2, are now level on four points, with the Cranes topping Group E of the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers on goal difference. Guinea have three while Togo are on zero.
KAMPALA- He made news for all the wrong reasons as his ambiguous explanations for not linking up with the Cranes in Niger hardly held; consequently being omitted from the team that travelled to get that valuable point in Ghana.
But when Geoffrey Massa, who as expected started ahead of Brian Umony, reported for duty at Namboole last evening, the Guineans wished he had instead stayed in South Africa with his club, Pretoria Tuks.
In the end, not even an eight-minute power outage could stop the Massa show as his two expertly taken strikes in the first stanza handed Uganda a 2-0 victory over Guinea.
Uganda and Ghana, who edged Togo 3-2, are now level on four points, with the Cranes topping Group E of the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers on goal difference. Guinea have three while Togo are on zero.
After the rains broke from a sunny day, Massa emerged fresh from the unexpected rest to give the hosts the lead in the 21st minute.
The visitors’ defence failed to clear Moses Oloya’s cross from the right, Savio Kabugo re-directed it with his head and Massa welcomed the delivery to his chest before thumping it beyond Yattara Naby.
That only whetted his and the over 25, 000 fans’ appetite. The collectors were ready to store his second in vault.
On 41 minutes, Covilhã winger Kizito Luwagga weaved through the middle to release Massa with a quality-laden pass that would make any striker proud of his enterprise.
Massa calmed the ball in a one-touch control, starving Guinean defender Zayatte Kamil of sight before plundering a scorcher into Yattara’s right-hand roof. What had we all just seen? A great goal!
It was Massa’s 11th in Afcon and World Cup qualifying stretching back to 2006, and third brace in national colours.
In between coach Michael Dussuyer’s men also had their moments. Dangerman Soumah Seydouba tested Dennis Guma down the left and forced Dennis Onyango into a fine save, while Boubacar Fofana missed a free header. But all counted for nothing for the visitors.
Group E standings
P W D L GF GA Pts
Uganda 2 1 1 0 3 1 4
Ghana 2 1 1 0 4 3 4
Guinea 2 1 0 1 2 3 3
Togo 2 0 0 2 3 5 0
Group E results
Uganda 2-0 Guinea
Togo 2-3 Ghana
Video bySteve Hynd
