Cranes beat Botswana to edge closer to Afcon finals

KAMPALA.

Uganda brightened their chances of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-1 victory over hosts Botswana in Francistown on Saturday.

Kizito Luwagga and Khalid Aucho scored the all-important goals for the Cranes while Onkabetsi Makgantai got Botswana’s consolation.

Victory moves the Cranes top of Group D with 10 points, three ahead of Burkina Faso – who face Comoros on Sunday.

The result means that Uganda will automatically end their 39-year absence from Afcon finals if they beat Comoros on the final day in September and Burkina Faso fail to pick maximum points from at least one of their remaining two matches.

Uganda could, however, still qualify for Gabon as one of the two best second-placed teams if they beat Comoros and Burkina Faso also pick maximum points from Comoros and Botswana.

Luwagga gave Uganda, who had a fairly comfortable game, the lead on nine minutes. 

Tonny Mawejje glanced up and picked out Luwagga with beautiful ball, the Portugal-based forward wonderfully controlling inside the area before rounding the Zebras’ goalkeeper to slot into an empty net.

The Cranes took the lead into the break, but the hosts returned with resolve, Makgantai stealing behind the Cranes backline to beat a stranded Denis Onyango in goal on 50 minutes.

But the lead lasted just two minutes, Denis Guma sending in a ball from the right with his left foot for Aucho to starve off his man and poke it home.

Uganda’s second away victory of the campaign - the first; a 1-0 coming away in Comoros - could yet be the match that did it.

2017 Afcon qualifying result

Group D

Botswana 1-2 Uganda

Botswana XI: Dambe, Gadibolae, Mafoko, Sosome, Ramoroka, Nato (Galenamotlhale 36'), Ditsele, Seakanyeng (Makgantai 46'), Moyana, Mogorosi, Ngele (Tshireletso 73')

Uganda XI: Onyango, Guma, Ochaya, Isinde, Jjuko, Wasswa, Aucho, Mawejje, Miya (Walusimbi 65'), Luwagga (Mugerwa 89'), Massa (Okwi 70')

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Comoros vs Burkina Faso

September 3

Uganda vs Comoros, Mandela National Stadium, Namboole

Burkina Faso vs Botswana, Stade du 4 August, Ouagadougou

Group D standings

Team              M        W        D         L         GF      GA      Pts

Uganda            5          3          1          1          5          2          10

Burkina Faso   4          2          1          1          3          1          7

Botswana         5          2          0          3          4          6          6

Comoros          4          1          0          3          2          5          3

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