CAPE TOWN-The Uganda Cranes have briefly maintained their lead in Group B of the on-going Africa Nations Championship after settling for a goalless draw against Zimbabwe on Thursday evening at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
Under lots of pressure by the Zimbabwe team that dominated the match for long spells, the Cranes managed to defend in numbers to secure a point. The draw takes them to four points from two games played after their 2-1 win over Burkina Faso in the first game.
Kudakwashe Mahachi who is on the brink of joining South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns together with Donald Ngoma were a constant threat for the Cranes backline, but poor finishing and good goalkeeping by the Ugandan goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan denied them chance to find the back of the net.
Zimbabwe who drew 0-0 with Morocco in the first game on January 12th looked a more hungry side as they passed the ball all over the pitch and run like it was a Cup final as their fans chanting from the start of the whistle.
After the interval Uganda Cranes Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic replaced re-placed off colour Brian Majwega for Joseph Mpande, but his team still failed to find a goal. It was lots of pressure for the Cranes, but Ochan performed so well stopping so many balls.
Cranes striker Junior Yunus Senfuka who scored a brace against Burkina Faso was kept out of the game by the Zimbabwe defenders who frustrated him. Richard Kasagga and Julius Ntambi were cautioned for Uganda.
Uganda’s State Minister for Sports, Charles Bakkabulindi who watched the game said it was a tough encounter, but the Cranes stood firm. “They were under a lot of pressure from the good Zimbabwe team, but they defended well,” said Bakkabulindi. MTN Football
