Cranes underline superiority with 15th Cecafa accolade
Cranes stars shower their coach McKinstry and fitness trainer after winning the finalm against Eritrea. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
- The third goal arrived at the stroke of full time via a well-practiced training ground move that saw Anukani release the substitute Ben Ochen whose perfectly weighted cut-back was stabbed home by Bright Anukani.
- His subsequent phone call celebration seemed like a reminder to the trophy engravers to inscribe Uganda’s name on the trophy for the 15th time, eight more than deposed champions Kenya.
The Cranes underlined their superiority at this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup by brushing aside Eritrea 3-0 in the final to clinch their 15th title at the StarTimes Ground in Lugogo yesterday.
The Eritreans had been tasked with the job of halting the Cranes machine that had reached the final unbeaten, scoring 11 times in five games and conceding once in open play before yesterday’s final.
And they did a decent job in the opening exchanges against the host nation with their short passing game and sharp turns making for a lively opening 30 minutes.
Their adventurous approach however meant they were always going to vulnerable to Cranes’ slightly more direct approach and they were duly punished just after the half hour mark when they lost possession in their own half.
Coaches Johnathan McKinstry, Abdallah Mubiru and Livingstone Mbabazi again set up the Cranes with two playmakers and they combined to devastating effect.
Allan Okello released Bright Anukani in the inside left channel with the latter finishing confidently at the near post after opening up his body.
The Eritreans, led by tournament MVP Robel Teklemicael, remained unfazed and almost got the equalizer before half time when Ali Suleman latched onto a through ball with his effort only diverted by goalkeeper Charles Lukwago.
The game followed a similar pattern in the second half with Eritrea hogging the possession before again being punished for losing concentration that allowed substitute Karim Watambala and Anukani to exchange passes in the box.
This allowed Fahad Bayo to dummy Anukani’s pass allow Mustafa Kizza pass the ball into the net.
The third goal arrived at the stroke of full time via a well-practiced training ground move that saw Anukani release the substitute Ben Ochen whose perfectly weighted cut-back was stabbed home by Bright Anukani.
His subsequent phone call celebration seemed like a reminder to the trophy engravers to inscribe Uganda’s name on the trophy for the 15th time, eight more than deposed champions Kenya.
Past Cecafa winners
2007 Tanzania
2008 Uganda
2009 Kenya
2010 Tanzania
2011 Tanzania
2012 Uganda
2013 Kenya
2015 Ethiopia
2017 Kenya
2019 Uganda
